Scorers : Dan Cann 74

Date : Saturday 6 January 2018 3:00pm - Sydenhams Wessex Premier

Venue : The County Ground

Hamworthy United : Nick Jones, Chris Clark, Ed Hodge, Billy Walker, Nathan Walker, Max Buckler, Nick Jones, Jamie Gleeson, Darren Watts, Dan Cann, Carl Preston.  Sub used : Jamie Beasley

Yellow Card : Jamie Beasley

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, Owen Roundell, Owen Royl, Duncan Brown, Dan Miller, Kev Brewster [c] (Jake Hoole 59), Marlon Mason (Frazer McLean 59), Alex Sawyer, Rory Wood (Dan Mason 45), Lee Wort, Jamie Bulpitt.  Subs not used : Harry Butler & Jamie Bray

Yellow Card : Lee Wort

Attendance : 102 (approx 25 Sholing fans)

Man of the Match : Ryan Gosney

Referee : Carl Rooney  Assistants : Paul Froud & Simon Mitchem

Sholing slipped to their first defeat in 12 league games in a game that won't linger long in the memory.  The "Hammers" win, meant they swapped places with the Boatmen in the League, as 2018 got off to a losing start for the visitors.

Team News : With Byron, Marv, TJ & Jean-Luc still unavailable, Dave Diaper once again gave run-outs to some of the Development squad.

On a bitterly cold afternoon, the home team got us underway on their 3G pitch in front of a good sized crowd, boosted as always, by a healthy contingent from Sholing.  It was the Boatmen who went close first, when on 4 mins, Lee Wort's cross-shot from the right side of the area, seemed to take the keeper by surprise, with the ball going very close to the far post.  Hamworthy had a good chance on 8 minutes, but the final effort was blazed off from a good position.

The game then went through a long scrappy spell, where both teams were unable to retain possession or create much going forward.  On 34 minutes, a twisting run by Hamworthy's Number 8, saw him beat two players to make space, but his final shot was comfortable for Gosney.  Sholing flashed a couple of crosses into the 6 yard box that evaded everyone, but that was it for a disappointing first half.  HT 0-0

Dan Mason came on for Wood for the restart, but the home side upped their game and Sholing were thankful to Ryan Gosney on three occasions in quick succession. On 49 mins, he beat away a left foot shot, then a minute later, a deflected shot from the edge of the area seemed to wrong foot him and head into the corner, but Gosney did brilliantly to change direction and at full stretch, tip the ball wide, and then also get up quickly to block the follow up.

Sholing's best chance of the game arrived on 61 mins when Gosney's long clearance over the top, saw Dan Mason judge the bounce better than the backpeddling defence, he connected first time with the dropping ball, but the keeper did well to make himself big to block the shot away.  

Jake Hoole returned to action after a few months out injured, he was joined by Frazer McLean, but the experienced Hamworthy defence & midfield were mopping up what little Sholing could throw at them and were controlling the game.  It was the Boatmen who once again conceded possession in midfield and it led to Hamworthy scoring the winner on 74 mins.  After winning the ball on the half way line, the Hammers broke down the right wing, the cross into the area was knocked into the path of Dan Cann, and the ex Poole & Blackfield striker smashed it first time past Gosney.

Apart from a couple of corners, Sholing didn't come close to getting an equaliser in the final 15 mins as the home side moved above us into 3rd in the Wessex Premier.  FT 1-0

Next Game : Fareham Town v Sholing - Tuesday 9 Jan 7:45pm - Russell Cotes Cup Quarter Final

Photos by Ray Routledge