Scorers : Jake Hoole 72

Date: Tuesday 13th November 2018 - 7:45pm - Russell Cotes Cup Second Round

Venue: Universal Stadium

Sholing: Ryan Gosney, Owen Royl, Marvin McLean, TJ Cuthbertson, Owen Roundell, Jamie Bulpitt, Alex Sawyer (Ryan Mackney 58), Kevin Brewster (Alex Rovelli-Zarelli 60) Lee Wort, Jake Hoole, Bradley Targett. Unused Subs: Byron Mason, Dan Mason, Jack Knutson.

Yellow Cards: Bradley Targett

AFC Totton: Adam Siviter, Mitchell Byrne, Eddie Perrett, Robin Nicholls, Callum Chugg (Alex Haynes 10), Dave Allen, Flavio Tavares (Christos Papakonstantinou 66), Ben McLean, Toby Adekunle (Craig Feeney 46), Justin Bennett, Jack Masterton. Unused Subs:  Charlie Hitchins, Matt Wootton.

Yellow Cards:

Attendance: 202

Referee: Mike Desborough  Assistants: Caitlan Tanase & Declan Hellyer  

Jake Hoole’s second half strike saw Sholing pull off a minor cup upset, defeating Louis Langdown’s division higher AFC Totton in the Russell Cotes Cup. It was the Boatmen's thirteenth successive win and fifteenth clean sheet of the season.

Team News : Dave Diaper was without Dan Miller through illness and Jack Smith & Pete Castle through work commitments. He also decided to rest Byron Mason & Dan Mason, with both nursing knocks after a busy schedule of fixtures. In came Kevin Brewster & Owen Royl, with TJ going to centre back. Jake Hoole & Brad Targett supported Lee Wort in attack. Marv McLean took the Captain's armband. The Southern League Stags made two alterations from their FA Trophy loss at Dorchester on Saturday.

In front of a bumper crowd for the Russell Cotes Cup, AFC Totton started brightly on the better than expected playing surface after the weekend's downpours  However, it was Kevin Brewster who had the first chance of the match, but the midfielder put his shot from 18 yards just over Siviter’s bar. AFC Totton Captain Jack Masterton flashed a shot over the crossbar for the Stags and former Boatmen, Toby Adekunle, also went close whilst Lee Wort forced a smart stop from Adam Siviter at the other end. Louis Langdown was forced into an early change when Callum Chugg was replaced by Alex Haynes.

On the half hour Owen Royl’s dipping drive was tipped away at the foot of his near post by a sprawling Siviter, before both keepers were called into action once more to keep out Dave Allen and Lee Wort respectively with their efforts.  Adekunle put an acrobatic effort wide before Brewster failed to make the most of a free-kick that flashed across the box and beyond a posse of poised Sholing players. HT: 0-0

The second half started with AFC Totton’s injury list growing when Toby Adekunle was replaced by Craig Feeney. An early freekick just outside the right side of the box by Kevin Brewster, saw his delivery into the 6 yard box evade all the Sholing players and was cleared by the Stags defence.   Sholing were looking more threatening going forward, with the pace of the ever moving three front men causing Totton problems.  On 52 minutes, Jake Hoole cut across the edge of the box and connected sweetly with a curling shot that seemed destined for the net, until Siviter dived full length with a terrific save. 

A spell on pressure from Sholing was rewarded on 72 minutes when they broke the deadlock. Brad Targett broke into the box, but his shot was blocked and Jamie Bulpitt also saw his effort blocked from the goalmouth scramble, but the ball fell to JAKE HOOLE, who smashed home the rebound through a crowd of players from ten yards.

Feeney fired over the bar when well placed on 78 mins, whilst Lee Wort's shot on 85 mins took a deflection, but once again, Siviter's athletic dive pushed it round the post.  The visitors pushed for a late chance to equalise and it came 3 mins into stoppage time, but veteran striker, Justin Bennett, put it wide. Dave Diaper’s men held out for another impressive victory. A third of the way through the season, and the side are sitting pretty at the top of the Wessex League with remaining interest in four cup competitions.  FT 1-0

Sholing will be at home to AFC Stoneham in the 3rd Round on Tuesday 8th January.

Report by Jamie Spoor

Next Game :  Sholing v Baffins Milton Rovers - Saturday 17th November 3pm - Wessex Premier