Sholing1 0Stoneham

Scorers : Lee Wort 7

Date: Tuesday 8th January 2019 - 7:45pm - Russell Cotes Cup Quarter Final

Venue: Universal Stadium

Sholing: Ryan Gosney, TJ Cuthbertson, Marv McLean, Owen Roundell, Dan Miller, Owen Royl (Ryan Mackney 75), Alex Sawyer, Byron Mason [c], Dan Mason, Lee Wort (Brad Targett 59), Jake Hoole.  Unused subs: Pete Castle, Kev Brewster, Jack Smith

Yellow Cards: Marv McLean, Ryan Gosney

AFC Stoneham: Luke Eaton, Ronan Galloway, Scott Hills, Chris Manning [c], Matt Palmer, Ben Clarke, Thomas Hogen, Matt Bainbridge, Marcel Laptas, Jack Brady, Will Harris.  Subs : Joe Sutherden, Merl Anteney-Wright, Adam Pattison, Matt Stupple

Yellow Cards: Ronan Galloway

Attendance: 86

Referee: Callum Waller  Assistants: Adrian Knight & Jon Ashley

An early goal by Lee Wort was enough to send Sholing through to the Semi Finals of the Russell Cotes Cup in an evenly fought game against AFC Stoneham.  The match saw the unbeaten Wessex Premier leaders face the unbeaten Wessex Division 1 leaders, but it was the Boatmen who progressed at the expense of the lively Purples.

Stoneham1

On a chilly night at the Universal Stadium, it was Sholing who started the better and only took 7 minutes to find the net.  A through ball down the middle saw the Stoneham keeper race out to the edge of his area, but LEE WORT got there first to nudge the ball past him and it rolled into the empty net for the striker's 32nd goal of the season.

Boatmen were having success with balls into the channel and over the top of the Purples defence and next to break through on the left was Jake Hoole, who took the ball a bit wider than he probably wanted and his angled shot on the run beat the keeper, but skimmed the top of the crossbar.   Lee Wort had three further chances to score, firstly firing into the side netting with Sawyer waiting for a tap-in and then shot into the arms of the keeper when well placed.  He was also sent clean through, but appeared to delay deciding what to do, allowing a defender to get back and nick the ball off him.

The visitors slowly grew into the game, but apart from a header from a corner that was hacked clear in the 6 yard box, didn't threaten scoring as the half ended.  HT 1-0

Sholing have been drawn away to Fleet Town in the Semi Final, scheduled for Tuesday 19th Feb.

Stoneham2

It was a scrappy opening to the second half, with Sholing unable to create anything and Stoneham working hard to close down, but also were finding their teammates better than the home side, who made an early change, bringing on Brad Targett for Lee Wort.  Stoneham had a good opportunity to score on 66 minutes when Sutherden met a left wing cross with a header that cleared the bar when he probably should have scored.  Although it was his first touch of the ball after coming on as a sub a minute before.

The brightest moment for Sholing in a frustrating half for them came from Brad Targett, who raced past 3 defenders, before being tackled, but the young forward instantly won the ball back and unleashed a 20 yard shot that left the keeper rooted to his spot as the ball smacked off the post and back into play before being cleared.

Stoneham were the team on top in the latter stages and on 4 minutes to go a good move saw Harris put through in space on the left side of the penalty area, but Ryan Gosney spread himself well to save, with the ball bouncing back off the Purples player and for a goalkick.  Stoneham pushed Sholing all the way, but like so many teams this season (21 of them to be exact), couldn't find their way past the Boatmen's impressive defence.  FT 1-0

Next Game :  Lymington Town v Sholing - Saturday 12th January, 3pm - Wessex Premier

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