Sholing3 3Portchester

Scorers :  Zac Mouland 21 Dan Mason 58 & 90+3 / Joe Bye 33, Jake Peppel, 37 Miles Everett 45

Date : Tuesday 27th September 2016 - 7:45pm - Sydenhams Wessex Premier

Sholing: Ryan Gosney, Kieran Winman, Marv McLean, Pete Castle (Owen Roundell 53), Dan Miller, Jamie Bulpitt, Barry Mason, Zac Mouland, Dan Mason, Byron Mason [c], Jake Hoole. Unused Subs: Owen Royl, Alex Sawyer, Nick Yeomans, Jordan Brooks

Yellow Card : Jamie Bulpitt

AFC Portchester: Cameron Scott, Rob Evans, Gary Moody (Reece Tuppen 13), Nathan Kirby, Josh Warren, Tom Cain, Miles Everett, Joe Bye [c], Jake Peppel, Steve Ramsey, Joe Noakes. Unused Subs: Ryan Griscti, Cameron Quirke, Harry Gregory, Lloyd Thomas

Yellow Card : Nathan Kirby, Josh Warren, Tom Cain, Joe Bye, Joe Noakes

Attendance : 96

Man of the Match : Dan Mason

Referee: Andy Dunn  Assistants : Adam Hillier & Connor Bowdidge

Dan Mason rescued a point for Sholing with a stoppage time stunner in another entertaining game at the Universal Stadium. 16 goals have rained in during the last 3 home games, as attacking has got the better of defending.

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After 3 minutes, Barry Mason forced a smart early save from Scott after neat footwork from Mouland on the right. Mouland continued his trickery, skipping past Gary Moody and finding Jake Hoole at the far post, who’s snap-shot on the turn produced another clever stop from the away keeper.

The lively Everett gave the Boatmen defence a warning as he dashed past Pete Castle before firing wide of Ryan Gosney’s near post. Noakes saw his left-footed volley fly just over the Sholing goal, while Dan Mason threatened at the other end – his header being coolly collected by Scott after Winman’s deep cross.  Portchester were forced into an early change, as left back Moody rolled his ankle.

Mouland continued to cause problems for the away side, breaking through on goal but Josh Warren got back in time to block the forward’s effort. But ZAC MOULAND did get his name on the scoresheet moments later in slightly fortuitous circumstances. The striker found space and his shot deflected strongly off Portchester defender Tom Cain and looped high over Scott before bouncing on the line and just over before the keeper could grab it. Linesman Bowdidge had originally waved the flag for shirt-pulling on Mouland but referee Dunn correctly played the advantage, which the young striker seized from 20 yards out.

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Steve Ramsey was keen to get the Royals back into the game, smashing a free kick over from the edge of the box before doing the same moments later after Noakes clever pull-back.

But Graham Rix’s men did grab an equaliser in the 33rd minute through their captain Joe Bye. Substitute Tuppen evaded the home defence before feeding a lovely lay-off to his skipper to calmly dispatch past Gosney from the centre of the box.

The hosts fell behind three minutes after as Jake Peppel finished off a flowing move down the right, arriving at the far post to connect with Noakes’ flashing cross and finish high into the goal.

And the industrious Miles Everett sent Portchester into the half time break with a deserved 3-1 lead following a moment of magic – the winger easily escaped Kieran Winman and cut inside before firing low into Gosney’s near post. HT 1-3

The Boatmen came flying out of the blocks early in the second half as they looked to regain a foothold in the game – Dan Miller coming close with headers from successive Barry Mason corners.

Sholing looked to their talisman, Dan Mason, to help them claw a goal back but after seizing on a weak backpass, the striker found himself with too much time in the box and only tamely shoot straight at Scott.

PortchesterHome3

But the striker showed why he has 11 goals already this season as he bagged his 12th from the penalty spot in the 53rd minute. Hoole skipped past Warren in the area, was clipped from behind, stumbled, but stayed on his feet, with referee Dunn rewarding his honesty by blowing for the foul anyway. DAN MASON made no mistake, making it six goals in three games after sending Scott the wrong way.

The visitors were bemused by the penalty decision and appeared to let that affect them going forward as ill-discipline took over – Cain, Noakes, Bye, Warren and Nathan Kirby all received cautions for dissent.

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A long free kick from Barry Mason appeared to miss everyone and fell kindly to substitute Owen Roundell at the far post, though the young defender wasn’t expecting it as it bounced off his thigh, onto the post, off the keeper and clear.

The Royals kept control of possession in the closing stages as they tried to see the game out but came up short in the 93rd minute as Dan Mason grabbed a dramatic late equaliser to send the Sholing supporters wild.

Marv McLean picked up the ball in the centre circle and with all 21 other players on the field in front of him, he lofted a high ball towards DAN MASON, who cleverly took it down on his chest 20 yards out and volleyed into the top corner. It screamed into the net, giving Sholing a share of the points. FT 3-3

PortchesterHome4

Dave Diaper reflected on the match: "Well, what a game, players showed true character to come back from 3-1 down against a very good Portchester side. For the First 20 mins we played well with a good tempo and although we got the first goal we missed at least another 3 chances and Portchester were clinical in their finishing to turn things around and deservedly went 3-1 up. But my lads never gave up and totally deserved at least a point with 2 goals from Dan, the latter being a goal to remember. So as I always say if you don't get the 3 get the 1. Now, on to Blackfield"

Dan Mason said on Twitter : "Where was the camera man when you need him!? Did well to come back and draw, but we should be winning those games! Roll on Saturday"

Report by Neil Vincent

Next Game : Blackfield & Langley v Sholing - Saturday 1st October 3pm
Next Home Game : Sholing v Portland United - Tuesday 4th October 7:45pm