TeamSolent1 1Sholing

Scorers : Jamel Wiseman 67 / Jamie Bulpitt 69

Date : Saturday 15th October 2016 - 3pm - Sydenhams Wessex Premier

Venue : Test Park

Team Solent: Bradley Banda, Adeoye Olumuyiwa, George Butler, Pip Nolan, Ellis White (James Orvis 28), Tyrell Mitford, Ryan Dacres-Smith, Jamel Wiseman, Silvano Obeng, Jesse Waller-Lassen [c], Tobi Adekunle (Matthew Sheedy 86). Unused subs: Lewis Pitts, Mike Lamb & Lee Webber

Yellow Card : Ellis White (25), Jamel Wiseman (78), Jesse Waller-Lassen (78)

Sholing: Jordan Brooks, Kevin Brewster, Marv McLean, Pete Castle, Dan Miller, Jamie Bulpitt, Barry Mason, Alex Sawyer, Dan Mason (Nick Yeomans 86), Byron Mason [c], Jake Hoole (Zac Mouland 63). Unused subs: Kieran Winman, Owen Royl & Josh Milsom.

Yellow Card : Jamie Bulpitt (31), Marv McLean (33), Kevin Brewster (88)

Attendance : 70ish (30 Sholing fans)

Man of the Match : Pete Castle

Referee: Robert Ablitt  Assistants: Stuart Carter & Kevin Robinson

Sholing picked up a hard-earned point against in-form Team Solent. The Boatmen defence was breached for the first time in 472 minutes as they stretched their unbeaten run to 11 games, while the hosts run of eight straight wins came to an end. Both goals came within 2 minutes of each other as Jamie Bulpitt equalised Jamel Wiseman's strike. Sholing also missed a first half penalty, with Dan Mason's spot kick well saved.

Team News: Once again Dave Diaper was unable to field a settled side as Ryan Gosney missed his first match away at a wedding. Jordan Brooks came in for his first start of the season. Marvin McLean passed a late fitness test, Kevin Brewster & Barry Mason returned to the line-up after missing the midweek cup win.  Sholing switched from their usual 4-4-2 to a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Byron Mason anchoring midfield.

The visitors started the game brighter than the hosts as Jake Hoole headed over from close range following Dan Mason’s byline hooked cross on 4 minutes. Sholing were closing Solent down quickly, not allowing them to have time on the ball, which set the pattern for the whole match.

Ryan Dacres-Smith tried testing young Jordan Brooks in the away goal but blazed over, while Kevin Brewster’s free kick at the other end found an unmarked Byron Mason, but the Sholing skipper headed wide. Kevin Brewster continued to cause the Solent defence problems with his pinpoint freekicks but the Sholing forwards failed to capitilise on his accuracy.

Tobi Adekunle picked up a loose ball inside the Sholing half as the Students broke forward but his curling shot was blocked well by Pete Castle and easily collected by Brooks.

Both sides traded headed efforts at each end, Barry Mason failing to capitalise on Brewster’s delicious in-swinging corner while Ellis White threatened Brooks to no avail from Jesse Waller-Lassen’s free kick.

The real controversy of the game came in the 24th minute, where referee Robert Ablitt was at the centre of attention. Dan Mason flicked the ball over to the on-running Barry Mason who, as he riffled his shot wide, was hacked down by Ellis White, who received a caution in the process. Referee Ablitt hesitated before pointing to the spot and Team Solent were angered by not only the late decision, but the referee’s failure to blow up for what they thought was handball by Dan Mason in the buildup.

The 15-goal striker stepped up confidently and thumped his spot kick low towards the left of the goal, but Solent keeper Bradley Banda got down quickly to deny Dan Mason, who missed from the subsequent rebound. Four minutes later James Taylor replaced an aggrieved Ellis White and replaced him with Jim Orvis to prevent him seeing Red. The tempo of the game hotted up with both Marvin McLean & Jamie Bulpitt both receiving cautions within the space of two minutes.

Jake Hoole dribbled 40-yards and tested Bonda again, it was the Solent defence under pressure again but the ball got caught up in Dan Mason’s foot and the striker couldn’t get his shot away as an energetic first-half that Sholing controlled, ended goalless. HT 0-0

The second half began with the hosts dominating the ball and pressing forward to break the deadlock. The tenacious Jesse Waller-Lassen was causing problems and won a number of freekicks, but without creating a real opening.

Dan Mason’s back heel found Jamie Bulpitt inside the Solent box and the ‘Pitbull’ forced a corner for the visitors, only for Pete Castle to head over from Kevin Brewster’s out-swinging cross. Jake Hoole was replaced by Zac Mouland on 63 minutes.

Team Solent nearly took the lead in the 65th minute and should have but for a moment of magical defending from the Sholing skipper Byron Mason. Tyrell Mitford’s deep free kick evaded Brooks and Solent striker Silvano Obeng picked it up, rounded the young keeper and shot on goal, but the Boatmen’s captain fantastic was on hand to make a last-ditch, goal line clearance.

However, the Sparks did take the lead two minutes later through Jamel Wiseman, who was unmarked at the back post and latched onto a deep cross to fire high into the roof of the net via the underside of the crossbar.

The lead didn’t last long though as the away side immediately replied via JAMIE BULPITT. The Sholing midfielder grabbed his first goal of the season, niftily flicking in after Marvin McLean’s deep cross from the left wing evaded everyone and found its way into the far corner past the stunned Bradley Banda via the ‘Pitbull’.

Emotions were running high and Team Solent were appealing for every freekick leading to referee Ablitt cautioning both Wiseman & Waller-Lassen for dissent on 78 minutes. Nick Yeomans replaced Dan Mason on 85 minutes. Kevin Brewster then picked up a rare yellow card for a challenge on Sheedy which looked as though he cleanly won the ball.

The Students drove forward in search of a late winner as Jesse Waller-Lassen had a shot that Jordan Brooks finger tipped onto the post.

Ultimately, Sholing picked up a hard-fought point against a very strong side showing that both teams were in rich vein of form coming into this match and very happy not to suffer a defeat. FT 1-1

Report by Neil Vincent

Dave Diaper's post match thoughts : "Very pleased with the performance against a very capable Team Solent. The lads stuck to the game plan and our shape caused problems for them right from the start. Expending the energy that we did in the opening stages of the game led to us dominating the midfield and we nullified the threat of their front two, but when you dominate the game you need to score and we should have taken the lead when Barry Mason was brought down in the box but the resulting penalty was saved by the Solent keeper."

"The interval team talk was about asking much of the same from my players as our shape looked good and Sawyer and Bulpitt were causing the Solent back four problems with their support play from Midfield. We knew there would be a reaction from Team Solent and we were right as the hosts enjoyed more possession and they always looked threatening going forward."

"The goal when it came was from our point of view a poor goal to give away as their player was unmarked at the back post and he gave Jordan no chance as he struck an unstoppable shot that flew by him. We have always been a team blessed with mental strength and that was demonstrated within 2 mins when Bulpitt equalised with a goal that shook our hosts and for a 10 minute spell we once again controlled the game, but Team Solent finished strongly and in the end I think a draw was a fair reflection of the game."

Next Home Games :
Sholing v New Milton Town - Russell Cotes Cup - Tuesday 18 Oct 7:45pm
Sholing v Buckland Athletic - FA Vase 1st Rd - Saturday 22 Oct 3pm

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Photos by Ray Routledge (click an image to enlarge)