Sholing1 0Portland

Scorers :  Barry Mason 33

Date : Tuesday 4th October 2016 - 7:45pm - Sydenhams Wessex Premier

Sholing: Ryan Gosney, Kevin Brewster, Marv McLean, Owen Roundell, Kieran Winman, Jamie Bulpitt, Barry Mason [c], Alex Sawyer, Dan Mason, Zac Mouland (Nick Yeomans 65), Jake Hoole.  Unused Subs: Liam Attrill, Jake Attrill, Corey Cherrett, Jordan Brooks

Yellow Card : Owen Roundell, Jake Hoole

Portland United: Sean Lillington, Ash Smith (Carl Mutch 82), Chris Clarke, Ross Carmichael, Lewis Whitton, Ross Doidge, Max Buckler, Alex Halloran, Ed Bastick (Alex Godfrey 74), Tom Richardson, Jamie Beasley. Unused Subs: Dan Watts, Carl Morris

Yellow Card : Ross Carmichael

Attendance : 91

Man of the Match : Owen Roundell

Referee: Tim Godfrey  Assistants : Paul Hicks & Thomas McGhee

Barry Mason’s outstanding volley was enough to give Sholing a vital three points at the Universal Stadium. Following goals galore of late at the home of the Boatmen, Dave Diaper’s side would’ve welcomed the clean sheet, but it did not come easy against fellow promotion chasers Portland United.

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Team News: Dave Diaper once again was unable to field a settled side with key players missing. Skipper Byron Mason and defenders Pete Castle and Dan Miller were away. Kevin Brewster, Zac Mouland & Kieran Winman were called up Owen Royl was released to the U18 squad for their impending FA Youth Cup match at Andover and youth was order of the night for the bench with the average age of 18 new signing Corey Cherrett again started on the bench.

Prior to the match a respected minute’s silence fell upon the 91 attending the Universal Stadium for Sholing born footballer 40 year old Stuart Barfoot. Stuart started his career at Bournemouth before moving to Torquay then went into Non-League football with Bashley Andover and Brockenhurst. Stuart was a well-respected member of the football community.

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Sholing threatened first when Zac Mouland found space and fired a shot straight at goalkeeper Sean Lillington, but after that it was all Portland. Just seconds later the ball was in the Sholing box and Alex Halloran struck the upright with a volley.

A makeshift defence without Dan Miller and Pete Castle had to work hard to contain the pacey attack of Portland, particularly out wide. Lewis Whitton was unmarked in the box when he headed high and wide from point blank range, before Ross Doidge missed from a similar position. All of that in the first ten minutes as Ryan Gosney and Kev Brewster tried to rally the troops.

A Chris Clarke cross was volleyed wide by Alex Halloran, who tried to make up for his misses with an ambitious effort from distance that went inches past the right side of Ryan Gosney’s post. Jake Hoole was trying to make things happen battling in midfield and helped create a chance for Zac Mouland that was blocked.

The Boatmen seemed to have weathered the storm of their opponents and started to threaten with another Zac Mouland effort blocked by Sean Lillington when he had broken through on goal. Jamie Beasley went up the other end for Portland and had a deflected effort well saved by Ryan Gosney before a moment of magic came about on this cold night.

On 33 minutes Sholing worked the ball into the final third with both Kevin Brewster and Marv McLean both having crosses blocked and eventually when the ball dropped kindly to captain BARRY MASON, he rifled a volley past the keeper from outside the box, a truly magnificent goal. You’d be hard pressed to find a sweeter struck shot all season.

Hotshot Dan Mason tried to replicate Barry’s volley but could only slice wide, meanwhile Max Buckler kept Ryan Gosney busy with a drilled effort as Sholing went into the half time leading, despite being second best for much of the first 45. HT 1-0

If Dave Diaper told his boys to stop conceding chances at half time, it certainly worked. Sholing started the second half on the front foot, looking more assured in all areas. Dan Mason had a volley from a few yards out heroically blocked by Ross Doidge and minutes later Kieran Winman headed just over from a corner.

Just past the hour mark Ryan Gosney had his first task of the half, and he was equal to another Jamie Beasley effort, tipping past the post and into the side netting. Owen Roundell was then booked for a cynical challenge near the half way line but that was all Sholing really had to worry about.

Barry Mason almost added to his tally but his shot was saved this time by Sean Lillington, and Zac Mouland couldn’t force the rebound home. Zac Mouland was replaced by Nick Yeomans on 64 minutes. As the game came to a close Nick Yeomans had a delightful chip go just wide when it looked to be going in for a long time. The speedy sub came close again forcing the keeper to parry his curling effort just wide.

Portland pushed hard for an equaliser, but a defence that started off shaky stood form and a few threatening set pieces came to nothing as the Boatmen picked up the points & our 6th clean sheet of the season. FT 1-0

Report by Reece Peecham

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Dave Diaper reflected on the match: "Once again, what a game at the Universal Stadium. A narrow 1-0 win against a team that clearly rated their chances against us, saw the supporters well entertained.

"It was no surprise to me that Portland would come out and give it a right go and if they took the chances they created they could have scored 3 goals in the 1st 15 mins as they dominated play.  I thought we coped well and it was only a matter of time before they blew themselves out and after Barry scored a tremendous volley I thought we grew into the game and to go in 1-0 at half time kicking away from the clubhouse was pleasing."

"The second half was nip and tuck, but we gradually took control through our tremendous work rate and togetherness and we looked more likely to score as Nick Yeoman went close on two occasions. Portland still looked a threat going forward and I must admit I was a relieved man when the ref blew up. I thought with half the spine of the team missing the lads did remarkably well against one of the best teams to visit the Universal Stadium this year."

Barry Mason commented: "What a shift by the lads tonight and we had some key players missing, but everyone played their part. Good 1-0 win, clean sheet and happy to have got the goal #volley #top #bins"

Next Game : Sholing v Bashley - Saturday 8th October 3pm

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