Scorers : Lee Wort 53
Date: Thursday 19th April 2018 7:45pm - Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division
Venue: Blanchard Wells Stadium
AFC Portchester: L Noice, R Evans, S Stone, S Ramsey, J Warren, O Searle, J Morgan, J Bye [c], D Wooden, A Baldacchino, D Mason. Subs : M Page, C Scott, B Scott, B Buckland, H Birmingham
Yellow Cards: ?
Sholing: Ryan Gosney, TJ Cuthbertson, Owen Royl (Kev Brewster 32), Owen Roundell, Dan Miller, Jack Smith, Alex Sawyer, Byron Mason [c], Dan Mason, Lee Wort, Jamie Bulpitt. Subs not used : Frazer Mclean, Harry Butler, Marlon Mason, Jamie Bray
Yellow Card: Jack Smith
Red Card : Jack Smith
Attendance: 116 (approx 20 Sholing fans)
Referee: Stuart Carter Assistant Referees: Paul Hicks & Callum Waller
Man of the Match: Owen Roundell
Lee Wort's second half goal earned Sholing another win on their travels to end a hectic period of 5 away games in 10 days, unbeaten. The victory all but sealed 3rd place in the League as well.
Team News: Dave Diaper continued to put out the strongest team he could, with Marv Mclean & Pete Castle injured and Jake Hoole missing his last game through suspension.
It was still very warm as the sun dipped behind the trees and Venus shone brightly in the evening sky as the game kicked off. There wasn't much action in the opening few minutes and wasn't until 17 mins that Sholing had their first shot when Jamie Bulpitt connected well with his 20 yard effort, but it flashed wide of the far post. On 25 mins, Alex Sawyer was alive to a defensive slip, but with only the keeper to beat, his effort on the stretch was straight at Noice.
The home side's best attacks came down the flanks, but the final ball was lacking. Just before half time, Dan Mason twisted and turned in the box to make space, but his angled rising shot was beaten down and claimed by the keeper. HT 0-0
Sholing made the breakthrough on 53 minutes with a quality goal. TJ's throw in on the right wing found Dan Mason, LEE WORT had peeled off to make a run into the box and Dan found him perfectly with a first time pass. Wort sprinted across the face of the area before firing a low left foot shot inside the near post for his 26th of the season.
Gosney was forced into good save to beat away a shot towards his near post, but he was mostly untroubled as a well organised Sholing defence were mopping up Portchester's attacks, helped by a hard working midfield. It looked more likely that the Boatmen would extend their lead and they almost grabbed a second in the dying minutes. Firstly Byron Mason was free at a corner, but planted his header wide. Then a 25 yard Kev Brewster freekick saw the keeper scramble across to push the ball out as it was about to go inside the upright.
In the 5th minute of stoppage time, Jack Smith received a second yellow card for pulling back a Portchester player. The home side keeper went up for the freekick, but Sholing held out out to earn the 3 points and our 26th clean sheet of the season. Not the most exciting of games for those watching, but huge credit to the Sholing players for their hard work over this insane fixture pile-up. It's not over though, Boatmen now have 3 home games in the space of 5 days! FT 0-1
Next Games : - Sholing v Andover Town (Saturday 3pm) - Sholing v Portland Utd (Monday 8pm) - Sholing v Cowes Sports (Wednesday 8pm)
