Sholing2 1Wellington

Scorers : Owen Royl 69, Byron Mason 90+4  /  Connor Pengelly 38

Date : Saturday 11th November 2017 3:00pm - The Buildbase FA Vase Second Round

Venue : Universal Stadium

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, TJ Cuthbertson, Dan Miller, Pete Castle, Marvin McLean, Barry Mason, Byron Mason [c], Owen Royl, Jamie Bulpitt (Alex Sawyer 77), Dan Mason, Lee Wort (Rory Wood 87). Unused Subs: Owen Roundell, Jack Smith, Kevin Brewster

Yellow Card :  Pete Castle, Byron Mason, Marv Mclean

Wellington AFC : Tom Welch, Tim Legg, George Painter, Tom Ellis [c], Joe Chamberlain, Glenn Wright, Sam Towler, Jack Bryant (Jack Porter 81), Conor Pengelly (Mitchell Woodgate 55), Ian Bellinger; Connor Bryant. Unused Sub : Sam Bryant

Yellow Card :  Jack Bryant, George Painter

Attendance : 128

Man of the Match : TJ Cuthbertson

Referee : Michael Ryan  Assistants : Wayne Webb & Mark Spence

Byron Mason headed a dramatic winner in the dying seconds of added time as Sholing came from behind to book their place in the third round of the FA Vase.

Team News: There were three changes to Dave Diaper’s line-up from the draw at Bashley as Pete Castle, Owen Royl and Jamie Bulpitt replaced Duncan Brown, Kevin Brewster and Jack Smith. There was also a place on the bench for Alex Sawyer, but the injured Bradey Norton, once again watched from the sidelines.

Prior to the teams taking the field Barry Mason was presented with a bottle of Champagne from club legends Bill Boyle MBE & Trevor Lewis for reaching the landmark 550 appearances for the Boatmen.

The kick off was preceded by a perfectly observed minutes silence to mark Armistice Day & Remembrance Sunday.

The hard work in the week by groundsman, Trevor Diaper, meant the pitch passed a morning inspection, but the amount of rain recently, left it heavy & muddy in places. The Western Premier Division visitors started strongly and almost went ahead after two minutes when Castle had to clear off the line from Pengelly’s header from a corner. Sholing started sluggishly and it was 12 minutes before Lee Wort had his shot deflected wide and from the corner, Byron Mason headed off target. TJ Cuthbertson stung the palms of Tom Welch from distance, and Ryan Gosney saved well from Ian Bellinger at the other end.

Sholing won a free kick 22 yards out Barry Mason saw his effort deflect off Pete Castle for a goal kick. With the conditions greasy under foot, Pete Castle’s challenge earns him a yellow card on 36 minutes. The visitors looked dangerous from set pieces and two minutes later Wellington took the lead when from Jack Bryant’s corner, the ball reached the unmarked Connor Pengelly and he headed strongly past Gosney, who got a hand to it, but it had the power to go in.

A minute before half time Marvin McLean got right down to the byline and cut inside but to his obvious anger, his ball into the 6 yard box wasn't anticipated by any of his teammates. The closest the Boatmen came to scoring was just before half time when Barry Mason's piledriver was acrobatically tipped over by keeper Tom Welch. HT: 0-1

The sluggish Sholing of the first half were replaced by a much more hungry and faster paced side for the second half. Sholing instantly took the upper hand as the visitors found themselves camped deep in their own half. Dan Mason twice went close to an equaliser, seeing efforts well saved. Bulpitt flashed a header wide and Marvin McLean had a shot blocked after a mazy run from the leftback. Then TJ’s header from Barry Mason’s free kick is on target, but straight at Welch.

But, on 69 minutes, Sholing finally got reward for their prolonged period of pressure. OWEN ROYL’s cross-shot from wide on the right floated over the keeper, who could only get a finger tip onto it before it dropped into the net. The goal was initially chalked off, but after a lengthy discussion between linesman Wayne Webb and referee Michael Ryan, the decision was overturned and the goal stood.

On 77 minutes Alex Sawyer returned to the fray after a month out, when he replaced Jamie Bulpitt. Wellington had only limited attacks on Sholing's defence. A skewed clearance by Gosney outside his box, found a Wellington player in midfield who tried to put it back into the empty net, but he was nearer to the corner flag with his effort.  Then a freekick on the edge of the box was put wide. 

With eight minutes remaining Dan Mason spun his marker and flashed a shot inches wide of the far post. Alex Sawyer went close from distance as Sholing laid siege to the Wellington goal in search of the winner. In the 87th minute Rory Wood replaced Lee Wort.

With four minutes stoppage time shown an additional 30 minutes looked imminent. However, it was down to skipper BYRON MASON to turn the game on his head, literally, as he firstly headed onto the bar on 91 minutes, then thanks to his even later intervention - no extra time or replay was required. It was the Boatmen who progressed when the skipper rose highest to meet a free-kick from his brother Barry and nod down inside the post where Wellington had no man, to settle the contest. FT 2-1

{youtube}Cu3DRfk5Ct8{/youtube}

After the match, Manager Dave Diaper said: “We deserved the win in the end but credit to them as they defended very well and frustrated us for much of the game. “It was a disappointing goal to concede and we had words at half-time, but I was pleased with the character and spirit in the second half, they barely got out of their half. “It would be nice to get another home draw as we’re strong here, so let’s see who we get and go from there.” "Good luck to Wellington for the remainder of the season".

Barry Mason said: “It’s a proud moment to reach a great milestone of 550 games, but it would have meant little to me if we hadn’t won the game. “The team is the most important thing and I always put Sholing as a whole above any individual achievements”.  “It’s a memorable day for me, loyalty and longevity is rare in football these days, even at this level where players seem to change clubs regularly, so I’m very, very proud. “To be able to have an impact and set up the winner for my brother on the occasion of my 550th match is special for me and I want to thank everyone who has helped me along the way.”

Match report and interviews by Jamie Spoor

Next Game : Sholing v Bush Hill (Millbrook) - Tuesday 14 Nov 7:45pm - Russell Cotes Cup

Photos by Ray Routledge (click an image to enlarge)