Sholing1 0TadleyCalleva

Scorers : Dan Mason 74

Date: Saturday 10th August 2019 - 8pm - Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round

Venue: Mackoy Stadium

MackoyLogoWhite1000

Sholing: Ryan Gosney, TJ Cuthbertson, Marv McLean, Owen Roundell, Dean Faithfull, Owen Royl, Brad Targett (Alex Sawyer 46), Byron Mason [c], Dan Mason, Jamie Bulpitt, Marlon Mason (Aidan Radford).  Unused subs : Tobi Falodi, Shola Amiwero, Michael Okubote

Yellow Cards: Dean Faithfull & Byron Mason

Tadley Calleva: Jack Martin, Brad Neal, Richard Jones, Chris Morris, Keiron Mayhew, Tom Walsh, Tom Etheridge, Amie Kamden, Brett Denham [c], Darryl Phillips, Jordan Goater.  Subs : Adam Alliston, Jordan Holmes, Keiron Farmer, Chad Abrams

Yellow Cards:

Attendance: 162

Referee: Adam Baker  Assistants: ?

Dan Mason grabbed Sholing's winner in the 74th minute as the Boatmen progress in the Emirates FA Cup.  However, it was a tough first game of the season, with Tadley being resolute, well organised and limited Sholing to a handful of clear cut chances, with their keeper also pulling off an excellent penalty save.

Team News: Dan Miller & Jake Hoole were on holiday, as was Dave & Marc Diaper. Iain Calder took charge of a familiar looking Boatmen starting line-up, which only had the two new faces in it, although both are well known to Sholing fans... Centre back, Dean Faithfull, has returned to the club after playing for us in the 2015/16 season. Also returning is forward, Marlon Mason, after a season at Hamble Club. On the bench, Alex Sawyer was joined by four new signings.  Jamie Bulpitt was making his 200th appearance for the Boatmen.

The Mackoy Stadium (the new name for our ground) had seen a lot of hard work by volunteers in the two weeks leading up to tonight's game and was looking in good shape.  The bottom end of the ground was open due to the work on the new clubhouse, meaning the strong Southerly wind was whipping up the length of the pitch.  In front of a decent crowd, with quite a few groundhoppers in attendance, taking advantage of the late kick off to get in 2 or 3 FA Cup matches in one day, it was a cagey opening to the game.

First chance came on 10 minutes as Dan Mason set the ball into the path of Byron Mason, but his shot from 15 yards just cleared the bar.  Marlon Mason & Marv were getting into some good positions on either flank, but the final balls evaded teammates in the middle. Marv had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down when he appeared to be caught from behind as he crossed, however, a few minutes later, Sholing were awarded a spot kick.  Owen Royl latched onto a flick-on as he entered the area and was tripped for a clear penalty. Dan Mason fired his effort low to the keeper's right, but Jack Martin did very well to dive full length to push it round the upright. That boosted the confidence of Tadley, who were defending well in numbers, although not offering much going forward as a result. HT 0-0

An off-colour Brad Targett, suffering from illness, made way for Alex Sawyer for the restart. Alex went into midfield, with Royl going to left back and Marv pushed forward.  It was a similar pattern for the start of the second half, with Tadley energetic in not giving Sholing space, plus the flow of the game wasn't helped by a lot of stoppages.  Sholing had a short period of sustained pressure, with Dan Mason firing off a trademark cross shot on the turn, but it fizzed across the keeper and inches wide.   Then following a corner, the ball was played back into the far post where Owen Roundell did well to hook it back goalwards, but the wind seemed to effect the flight of the ball, with it landing on the roof of the net.

On 65 minutes, the Boatmen put together a nice passing move down the right, which set up Jamie Bulpitt for a fierce shot from the edge of the area that just went over.  Game remained a bit niggly with Sholing players feeling they weren't getting the fair share of decisions their way, but on 74 minutes, with Tadley probably starting to think of a replay, the winning goal arrived.  Dean Faithfull hit a long diagonal into the area where DAN MASON had peeled away from his marker and did superbly to get his head on the ball and direct it back goalwards. Jack Martin got his hand to the effort, but wasn't able to stop it looping into the middle of the net.

Sholing put on Aidan Radford, a 17 year old forward who played for New Milton last season, for his debut.  Tadley, now forced to go forward, created more chances in the space of a few minutes than they had all game.  On 83 minutes, Ryan Gosney pulled off a fantastic double save. Firstly saving a shot from Denham and then scrambling back towards his far post to save the follow up.  A minute later, he dived low to his right to ensure he would have his 100th clean sheet for the Boatmen (in just 224 appearances!).  FT 1-0

Sholing will now make the very short trip to Hamble Club in the FA Cup Preliminary round in two weeks time (date to be confirmed).

Next Game : Mangotsfield United v Sholing - Saturday 17 August 3pm - BetVictor Southern League South Div 1

Photos courtesy of Ray Routledge (click an image to enlarge)