Scorers : Leon Carbayo-Borges 62 / Dan Mason 3, Marv McLean 42, TJ Cuthbertson 65, Byron Mason 78

Date : Saturday 17th February 2018 3pm - Sydenhams Wessex Premier

Venue : Meadens Skoda Arena

Brockenhurst : Ed Kitcher, Tommy Barnes (Arron Dunne 87’), Ronan Moore, Ben Kelly, Matt Burt [c], Cassius Newton (Matt Casey 87’), Noel McCarthy-Gardiner (Leon Carbayo-Borges 58’), Tobi Falodi, Mitchell Speechley-Price, Matt Sheedy, Jude Nwachukwu Subs not used: Matt Taylor

Yellow Card :

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, Owen Royl, Marvin McLean, Pete Castle, Dan Miller, Jack Smith (Jamie Bulpitt 51’), TJ Cuthbertson, Byron Mason [c], Dan Mason (Marlon Mason 66’). Lee Wort (Owen Roundell, 87’), Alex Sawyer. Subs not used: Kevin Brewster, Jamie Bray

Yellow Card : 

Attendance : 96 (approx 25 Sholing fans)

Man of the Match : TJ Cuthbertson

Referee : Mark Bradley  Assistants : Western Mufiri & Paul Bower

Sholing were ruthless in their finishing to take all three points away from the New Forest. It was an entertaining end to end game in which Brockenhurst failed to capitalise in the final third of the pitch and contributed to their own downfall in defence.

Team News: One month since our last League game Dan Mason returned to the starting line up with Jamie Bulpitt dropping to the bench.  Boatmen were forced to revert to last season's adidas kit, as the Kappa kit failed a pre-match fitness test

Sholing got the game underway but it was the Badgers who created the first chance and won a corner inside sixty seconds which was cleared by Jack Smith. However, two minutes later it was an eight man move starting from Owen Royl (twice) involving Lee Wort, Jack Smith, TJ (three times) and finally Byron Mason whose pass was half stopped by the defender, Matt Burt, who slipped and presented the ball to DAN MASON who buried the ball passed Kitcher from twelve yards.

Sixty seconds later the Badgers could have been level when Ryan Gosney had to be alert to scramble the ball off the line following a defensive slip. Ronan Moore’s free kick found Jude Nwachukwu’s head, but Ryan Gosney saved easily. Next Gosney was called into action when Tommy Barnes drilled the ball straight at him from twenty yards. Link up play between Dan Mason and Lee Wort set up another corner for Sholing but Alex Sawyer’s corner was punched clear from under his crossbar by Ed Kitcher.

With twenty minutes gone it was Pete Castle who made a timely tackle to prevent Brockenhurst a chance on goal. Moments later Matt Sheedy saw his free kick go wide of the post. On the half hour Sholing were denied doubling their lead when Jack Smith hit a shot from twenty five yards only for Ed Kitcher to tip the ball over the bar at full stretch. Again it was Matt Sheedy had a chance to equalise but Ryan Gosney was alert to push the ball away and the collected the resulting corner. Another free kick to Brockenhurst from thirty yards this time from Mitchell Speechley-Price however as the wall jumped the ball went along the ground fortunately with no one touching it, it went past the upright.

On thirty nine minutes Ed Kitcher had to be alert as Alex Sawyer shot has to be scooped up at the second attempt. With half time approaching Sholing's high press on the Brock defence paid off with Ronan Moore slipping under pressure from Dan Mason and the striker kept his cool to look up and pick out the arriving MARVIN McLEAN who coolly slotted the ball home from twelve yards. HT: 0-2

Five minutes in to the second half Pete Castle needed treatment but was able to continue, although Jack Smith appeared to be struggling and was replaced by Jamie Bulpitt. Brockenhurst also make their first change with Leon Carbayo-Borges replacing Noel McCarthy-Gardiner and 4 minutes later the sub got Brockenhurst back in the game.  A long throw in was flicking into the path of Leon Carbayo-Borges who swept the ball past Ryan Gosney despite him getting a hand to the shot.

Any hopes of a comeback by the Badgers lasted all of two minutes as the Boatmen killed off the game with their third goal. TJ CUTHBERTSON robbed a defender and drove into the box, evaded another tackle and sweetly buried the ball past Kitcher.  A minute later Dan Mason is replaced by Marlon Mason, four minutes later it looked as if skipper Byron Mason had put the game beyond the Badgers but he saw his header go over the bar. On seventy five minutes a kick from Ryan Gosney evades everyone and picks out Lee Wort but as he lobs Ed Kitcher the ball just clears the bar.

Sholing then have a shout for a penalty when Owen Royl’s long ball finds Marlon Mason who appears to be hauled down by Burt only for the referee to give a corner. However, it wasn't to matter as from the corner, Alex Sawyer's cross was met with a spectacular diving header by BYRON MASON with the ball powering past the helpless keeper. FT: 1-4

Dave Diaper reflected on the game saying the work rate today was excellent with many contenders for man of the match, but he decided to award it to TJ.

Match Report by Greg Dickson

Next Game : Sholing v Amesbury Town - Tuesday 20th Feb 7:45 - Wessex Prem

Photos by Ray Routledge (click an image to enlarge)