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Scorer : Lee Wort 73

Date : Wednesday 29th March 2017 - 7:45pm - Sydenhams Wessex Premier

Venue : Arlebury Park

Alresford Town : Daniel Kempson, Luke Neller (John Cole), Harry Davies, Simon Everett (Liam Hall 45), Lukas McCarthy, Robert Flooks, Aaron Blaxall (Tom Sands), Christopher Mason [c], Craig Harding, Scott Munro, Sam Burt. Subs not used: Sam Doswell & Sam Dunn

Yellow Card :

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, TJ Cuthbertson, Marv Mclean, Luke Dempsey, Dan Miller, Micky Hubbard, Zac Mouland, Byron Mason [c], Dan Mason, Lee Wort, Jamie Bulpitt (Owen Roundell 54).  Subs not used : Kev Brewster, Jake Hoole, Owen Royl & Jamie Bray

Yellow Card : Jamie Bulpitt & Byron Mason

Attendance : 100 ish (Approx 40 Sholing fans)

Man of the Match : Byron Mason

Referee : David Cotton  Assistants : Colin Hopkins & Ryan Woods

Lee Wort’s 17th goal of the season ensured that Sholing came away from Alresford Town with a deserved victory. In a game that the Boatmen had the lion’s share of the chances, Lee Wort found the bottom-left corner less than a quarter of an hour from time, after earlier hitting the bar.

Team News: Following Dave Diapers landmark at the weekend, it was the turn of Dan Miller and Ryan Gosney to reach 200 and 100 appearances respectively. It was to be an impressive 41st clean sheet for Gos in his time with the club, whilst Miller was once again, a rock in defence. With Alex Sawyer on his travels around Asia (have fun), he was replaced by Zac Mouland with Luke Dempsey and Jamie Bulpitt replacing Jake Hoole and Owen Roundell.

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A good sized crowd, swelled by a very large contingent from Sholing witnessed a niggly first half, during which Jamie Bulpitt had the first chance on 8 minutes when he volleyed over the bar after decent build-up play from the visitors.

Dan Miller was starting his 200th game for the Boatmen and almost marked it in the perfect way a minute later when he nodded Micky Hubbard’s lofted free-kick just wide from six yards out.

Lee Wort then drove down the right-hand side before cutting onto his left foot, and his blocked shot almost fell for Jamie Bulpitt 17 minutes in, but the midfielder couldn't get a clean connection as the ball spun to him.

Sholing might have had a penalty three minutes later when Zac Mouland appeared to be fouled as he drove past the last man & into the penalty box, but neither the referee nor the linesman were interested.

Micky Hubbard’s corners were causing trouble for the hosts, with Luke Dempsey somehow missing from a yard out after a near-post flick on.

In a rare attack for Alresford, centre-half Lukas McCarthy thundered a volley against the crossbar after a free-kick.

Dan Mason and Zac Mouland both volleyed wide, while Ryan Gosney was called into action by a fine Aaron Blaxall strike for the hosts.

Jamie Bulpitt was booked for going for a bouncing ball in a 50/50 challenge, while Byron Mason was also booked for dissent meaning the Boatman’s skipper has to serve a two match ban ahead of the Cup Finals. HT 0-0

Within a minute of the restart, TJ Cuthbertson had a powerful shot on the angle that arrowed towards the near top corner, but Daniel Kempson in the Alresford goal was alive to palm it down and collect.

Jamie Bulpitt struggling with his calf is subbed for Owen Roundell on 54 minutes. Byron Mason’s firm strike from the edge of the area went just wide after he combined with the very lively Lee Wort.

Lee Wort then had another effort after he wandered with the ball all the way across the edge of the area before seeing his angled shot towards the bottom left corner saved midway through the second half with the Boatmen still on top with 64 mins gone.

Sholing then had another glorious chance after TJ Cuthbertson ghosted away from his marker on the right, and his delightful chip towards the middle of the area was volleyed against the bar by Lee Wort in almost similar fashion Alresford's 1st half effort.

It was beginning to look like they wouldn’t find a breakthrough, but on 73 minutes, LEE WORT, scored the Boatmen’s deserved goal. After some Alresford pressure which had come to nothing, goalkeeper Ryan Gosney launched the ball long down the middle of the park and while the home defence allowed it to bounce over their heads, Wort expertly took it on the half volley, rifling across the keeper and into the bottom corner from just outside the area.

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Leading marksman Dan Mason had a chance to double the lead but saw his snap-shot evade Daniel Kempson’s goal.

Alresford began to liven up after that and they were soon on the front foot, while Lee Wort and Dan Mason looked threatening on the break. The home side would often get into good positions, but rushed or overhit passes would let them down in the final third. In fact, their best chance came when a mix-up between Dan Miller and Luke Dempsey allowed Scott Munro to blaze high and wide.  Sholing comfortably saw the game out to consolidate 4th place in the league and close the gap on 3rd place Blackfield, who they face on Saturday.  FT 0-1

Report by Jack Prentice

Next Game : Sholing v Blackfield & Langley - Saturday 1st April 3pm - Wessex Prem

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