Blackfield0 0Sholing

Scorers :  

Date : Saturday 1st October 2016 - 3pm - Sydenhams Wessex Premier

Blackfield and Langley: Sam Beale, Ryan Murray, Ryan Oatley, Joe Byrne, Sam Poole [c], Luke Neller, Liam Robinson, Charlie Knight (Ash Howes 80), Jamie White, Luke Winsper (John Cole 79), Carl Preston (Tim Sills 71).  Unused subs: Sean Wain and Ethan Miller

Yellow Card :

Sholing: Ryan Gosney, Owen Royl (Zac Mouland 45), Marv McLean, Owen Roundell, Dan Miller, Jamie Bulpitt, Barry Mason (Nick Yeomans 85), Alex Sawyer, Dan Mason, Byron Mason [c], Jake Hoole. Unused subs: Kevin Brewster, Corey Cherrett and Jordan Brooks

Yellow Card :

Attendance : 82 (approx 30 Sholing fans)

Man of the Match : Owen Roundell

Referee: Tom Moisey  Assistants: Liam Twigg & Carl Rooney

In a battle of second versus third in the Sydenham’s Wessex Premier Division, both sides played for the win but were unable to break the other down. Blackfield moved back above Moneyfields on goal difference in the process while the Boatmen stretched their unbeaten run in all competitions to seven.

Team News: Manager Dave Diaper confirmed Jack Smith is now sidelined for the remainder of the season with his ankle injury, Peter Castle was still struggling with a thigh strain. Owen Royl & Alex Sawyer moved up from the bench with Zac Mouland dropping down. A new face into the club this week from Alton, Corey Cherrett, took a place as a sub.

A cross from the right was spectacularly cleared by Ryan Murray’s head away for a corner to Sholing on 26 seconds, however the corner was poor and cleared easily. Jake Hoole nearly gave the visitors a tenth minute lead as his cross got tangled up between defender Joe Byrne’s legs and wrong-footed keeper Sam Beale before the eventually being cleared.

Blackfield threatened at the other end through the lively Carl Preston, who rattled the base on the post with his left-footed drive after being sent through on goal. Ryan Oatley blasted his snapshot over from a corner for the Watersider’s, who dominated possession in the first half, but generally struggled to find a way through the sturdy partnership of Dan Miller and Owen Roundell.

But the away side ended the first half the stronger of the two and almost broke the deadlock moments before the break. Some neat play between the Mason brothers resulted in Byron playing Barry in down the right and a cutting pass found Dan, who rounded the keeper and shot at the open net – only for Joe Byrne to recover in time to head clear. HT 0-0

Sholing made a tactical substitution immediately with Owen Royl making way for Zac Mouland and Alex Sawyer reverting back to full back.

Free-scoring Jamie White looked to add another goal to his seasonal tally of 15, but could only produce a tame effort when one-on-one with Ryan Gosney.

Jake Hoole was causing problems down the left flank for the Boatmen as he weaved past Ryan Murray and Luke Neller before hitting a rising shot that just cleared the bar, while Alex Sawyer tried his luck from range to no avail shortly after.  Dan Mason flashed a shot across the face of goal after receiving the ball with his back to goal and turning his marker.

Sholing’s best chance to take the lead came in the 78th minute through Barry Mason, who surged past Luke Neller and as the Blackfield defence retreated, he riffled a pile driver from the edge of the box, forcing a smart save from Sam Beale.

Substitute Zac Mouland tried to make it two goals in two games but saw his effort hit the side-netting, while Liam Robinson’s snap shot sailed wide at the other end.  The ref blew for full time right on 90 minutes, despite a couple of stoppages & substitutions. He perhaps sensed that both clubs could have played all day and not scored. So, once again, a hard fought tight game between the two teams, but on this occasion, neither could find the telling touch in front of goal. FT 0-0

Report by Neil Vincent

Next Game : Sholing v Portland United - Tuesday 4th Oct 7:45pm

Photos by Ray Routledge (click an image to enlarge)