Newport1 0Sholing

Scorers :  Jared Wetherick 77

Date : Saturday 10th December 2016 - 3pm - Sydenhams Wessex Premier

Venue : St Georges Park

Newport IW : Gary Streeter, Liam Newbold, Keelan Sainsbury (Connor Kelly), Spike Pearce, Martin McDonough; Scott Sampson, Darren Powell, Liam Triggs, Tom McInnes (Jared Wetherick), Aidan Sainsbury, Joe Butcher.  Unused Subs: Ryan Thomas

Yellow Card:

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, Corey Cherrett, Marv McLean, Owen Roundell, Dan Miller, Kevin Brewster (Nick Yeomans 86),  Barry Mason (Zac Mouland 70) Byron Mason [c], Dan Mason, Lee Wort, Jamie Bulpitt.  Unused Subs: Marc Diaper Jake Hoole Jordan Brooks

Yellow Card:  Ryan Gosney

Attendance : 103 (10 Sholing fans)

Man of the Match : Marv McLean

Referee: Anthony Smith  Assistants: Sam Lee & Andrew Jones

Sholing's 9 game unbeaten run came to an end on a day when not a lot went right.  Preparation wasn't helped by the Redjet ferry being delayed an hour, meaning the squad arrived only 40 mins before kick off.  But that was no excuse for a performance that was well down on what we witnessed at Portchester.

Team News:  Dave Diaper made three changes from the midweek win, with Alex Sawyer away, Kevin Brewster returned along with Dan Mason and cup tied Corey Cherrett at the expense of Zac Mouland & Kieran Winman.

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In a first-half that wasn’t awash with goalmouth action, Sholing could have led after just 2 minutes through a superb Kevin Brewster free-kick. Brewster rattled the bar from 20 yards after Jamie Bulpitt was barged over by Spike Pearce.

After that, Newport started to get a foothold in the game and defender Scott Sampson headed just over from a corner. Darren Powell, who was the subject of a presentation before the match after reaching 500 appearances for Newport, then forced a fine save from Sholing goalkeeper Ryan Gosney. Newport should have taken the lead on 10 minutes when Joe Butcher was put through down the left but under pressure from Sholing defenders he blazed high and wide from a good position.

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On 12 mins a Sholing corner was cleared away from the Newport goal line as the ball dropped just the wrong side of Dan Miller, who would have had a tap-in. On 24 minutes Sholing won another corner when Marvin McLean’s cutback to Barry Mason was deflected away. Sholing then reasserted themselves without creating any chances that worked the keeper, although striker Dan Mason headed wide from an excellent Lee Wort cross on thirty seven minutes and Barry Mason also shot wide as the first half ended goalless. HT 0-0

Newport started fast in the second half and it took an incredible last ditch block from Marvin McLean to stop Powell from putting them ahead.  It looked a certain goal as Powell lined up a shot from 8 yards, but out of no where, Marv somehow blocked the ball away.

Lee Wort fired wide from distance on the hour mark as Sholing exerted pressure on the Newport defence, while Dan Mason had a tame shot smothered by Gary Streeter.

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On 77 minutes Newport got what was always going to be a vital breakthrough through substitute Jared Wetherick. A crossfield passing move ended with a floated left wing cross that found the big striker in the 6 yards box and he had the simple task of nodding into the top corner.

The Boatmen responded immediately, as straight from the kick-off a right-wing cross found Dan Mason at the far post, but his downward headed went inches wide of the post when he probably should have scored.

Sholing had Ryan Gosney to thank for keeping them in the match on 80 minutes, as substitute Connor Kelly caught the Sholing defence up field. Kelly looked for all the world as if he would put the game beyond doubt but wanted too much time and Gosney was able to make a fantastic block from the winger.

Gosney was then adjudged to have handled outside the penalty area as a high looping ball forward was held up in the wind and landed almost on the line for the unfortunate keeper, who was booked.  The Newport freekick hit the Sholing wall and was cleared.

Sholing finally managed to work Gary Streeter in goal in the 85th minute as he was forced to make a double save, firstly from Lee Wort’s stinging shot, before smothering Dan Mason's close-range rebound.

The Boatmen's day was then summed up when a freekick into the box was flicked on by Byron Mason, but his header hit the top of the bar.

In stoppage time Ryan Gosney prevented Newport doubling their lead as he tipped over a long range shot. The last action of the game saw Dan Miller seemingly fouled in the area, the whistle was blown, but it was to end the game and give Newport their first home win of the season and one they deserved.  FT: 1-0

Report by Jack Prentice

Before the game Dave Diaper revealed he planned to bring in a couple of experienced Wessex League players this week to strengthen the squad.  Today's performance backed up that move if Sholing are to avoid more slip-ups this season.

Next Game :  Bemerton Heath v Sholing - Tuesday 13th December 7:45pm - Russell Cotes Cup
Next Home Game : Sholing v Bemerton Heath - Saturday 17th December 3pm - Wessex Prem

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