Bemerton2 1Sholing

Scorers :  Sam Griffin 11, Scott Joyce 83 / Dan Mason 60

Date : Tuesday 13th December 2016 - 7:45pm - Russell Cotes Cup 2nd Round

Venue : The Clubhouse

Bemerton Heath : Jason Collins, Sam Davis, Jordan Cole, Dan Thompson, Richard Jackson, Jon Blake, Sam Griffin, Connor Doe, Scott Joyce, Jake Burgess, Jake Rawlins.  Subs: Will Robinson, Elliott Cross, Cam Roach, Joss Buck

Yellow Card:

Sholing : Jordan Brooks, Kevin Brewster, Marv McLean, Owen Roundell, Dan Miller, Alex Sawyer (Corey Cherrett 73), Byron Mason [c] (Barry Mason 24), Jamie Bulpitt, Jake Hoole, Dan Mason, Nick Yeomans (Lee Wort 62). Unused Subs : Owen Royl, Ryan Gosney

Yellow Card: 

Attendance : 34 (15 Sholing Fans)

Man of the Match : Dan Miller

Referee : Declan O’Shea  Assistants : Chloe Ann-Robinson & Sam Williams

Scott Joyce’s late goal was enough to ensure Bemerton Heath Harlequins knocked Sholing out of the Russell Cotes Cup. Joyce’s late low shot settled the tie after deceiving the unfortunate Jordan Brooks, who replaced regular goalkeeper Ryan Gosney.

Team News : Dave Diaper used this Competition to rotate his squad and there were starting places for Jordan Brooks, Nick Yeomans & Jake Hoole and Alex Sawyer also returned to the line-up after arriving back from New York only a few hours earlier. Zac Mouland rolled his ankle at Newport and watched from the side-lines. Ryan Gosney, Lee Wort, Corey Cherrett & Barry Mason all dropped down to the bench.

Scott Griffin's free-kick was the first real action of the match on 11 minutes after a handball had been given against Roundell near the right-hand corner of the Sholing box. Griffin stepped up and planted a shot into the bottom corner of Brooks’ net to give the hosts an early advantage.

That sparked the visitors into action as they began to put more pressure onto the Bemerton goal and five minutes late Dan Mason put his header well over Collins crossbar. Sholing lost their Captain Byron Mason to an ankle injury on 24 minutes and was replaced by his brother Barry.

Kevin Brewster’s dangerous free-kick saw Dan Miller career into the goal, even if the ball was headed behind for a corner. Dan Mason then headed a deep Owen Roundell cross just over, before Bemerton almost doubled their lead on the counter attack through Doe, who fizzed a shot wide after a good run. A penetrating run by Marvin McLean saw his cross easily cleared by the Bemerton defence. Jake Hoole’s skidding effort was then comfortably saved just before the stroke of half-time. HT: 1-0

Sholing were livelier in the second half and three minutes in Jamie Bulpitt had the chance to level the scores but put his 25 yard effort over the bar much to Collins relief. Then Sholing’s patience was rewarded fifteen minutes in with a well worked Dan Mason goal. The Boatmen kept possession, working the ball accros the pitch and it opened up the home team, allowing an excellent through ball by Jamie Bulpitt to release DAN MASON in the box and he dinked the ball past goalkeeper Jason Collins and into the bottom corner for goal number 26 of the season.

Sholing had their tails up and could have completed a lightning quick turnaround through Alex Sawyer. Sawyer picked the ball up inside the Bemerton half and drove into space before unleashing a rasping drive that Collins had to tip away. Two minutes later Dave Diaper replaced Nick Yeomans and brought on Lee Wort. Eleven minutes later the final change was made with Alex Sawyer being replaced by Corey Cherrett.

Sholing then allowed the home side back into the game and had to be thankful for an excellent tackle from Dan Miller when the home side looked destined to score through Joyce. 

With seven minutes remaining the game was won with an all round sloppy goal from Sholing's perspective. Prolific striker, Scott Joyce, who had been kept pretty quiet until then, picked up on a loose pass in the Sholing defence to drive into the area. His scuffed low shot deceived Jordan Brooks as it bobbled into the bottom corner at the near post.  The Boatmen ended up with Marv & Dan Miller joining Mason & Wort up front, but they didn't come close to getting an equaliser.

Sholing will have a chance for quick revenge when they face Bemerton again on Saturday, this time at the Universal Stadium. FT 2-1

Report by Jack Prentice

Next Home Games : Sholing v Bemerton Heath - Saturday 17th December 3pm - Wessex Prem

Sholing v Hedge End Rangers Reserves - Tuesday 20th December 7:45pm - Soton Senior Cup