Sholing6 0Horndean

Scorers : Brad Targett 18, 45+1 & 61, Josh Carey 8 & 29, Harry Edmondson 78

Date: Thursday 6 February 2020 - 7:45pm - Russell Cotes Cup Second Round

Venue: Mackoy Stadium

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Sholing: Arron Whitmarsh, Tobi Falodi, Joe Smith, Owen Royl (Toby Terry 70), James Hall, Owen Roundell ©, Jack Nicholas (Marc Drew 62), Chay Jennings (Ben Roles 76), Josh Carey, Harry Edmondson, Brad Targett.  Unused Subs: Owen Roles & Stuart Green

Yellow Cards:

Horndean:  Roux Hardcastle, Jon Cobon, Jay Kane, Sonny Harnett-Balkwill, Ben Cooper ©, Simon Ashing, Edward Glastonbury, Louis Hadley (Josh Miroy 51), Harry Hatherley, Mazen Youseff (Bradley Burge 49), Jake Callaghan. Unused Subs: Ross Betteridge & Peter Hamilton

Yellow Cards: Simon Ashing

Roe's Plumbing & Heating Man of the Match : Brad Targett

Attendance: 73

Referee: Sam Ogles  Assistants: Harvey Small & Thomas Copping

Holders Sholing progressed to the next round of the Russell Cotes Cup with an emphatic win against Horndean. A hat-trick from Bradley Targett was one of the many highlights as the Boatmen dominated the ninety minutes in a one-sided affair; thus celebrating Dave Diaper’s 1100th game in charge of the club in some style.

Team News : Diapes took the opportunity to take a look at a number of youngsters, giving first team debuts to James Hall & Chay Jennings from the start and later bringing on Ben Roles & Marc Drew for their first appearances for the senior side.  The line-up had the experience of Owen Roundell, Owen Royl and Brad Targett down the spine of the team.  Horndean also had out a very young side, who were managed in the dugout by their Reserve boss.

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Sholing dominated the early exchanges with some slick football and created their first chance in the fifth minute. Josh Carey spun his marker, before seeing a low effort well saved by Hardcastle for a corner that came to nothing. However, the Boatmen continued to dominate the possession and took the lead in the eighth minute.

Jack Nicholas broke down the right side, out pacing two defenders and floated a perfect ross to find JOSH CAREY to powerfully head past the stranded Horndean keeper from 8 yards. This advantage was doubled ten minutes later with the second goal being almost a copy of the first. This time it was right back Tobi Falodi beating his marker for pace and his delivery found BRAD TARGETT arriving at the far post, who headed his effort off the crossbar and down across the line.

The Boatmen made it three-nil just before the half hour mark when Brad Targett lifted a pass into the box, JOSH CAREY beat the onrushing Horndean keeper to the bouncing ball and headed into the unguarded net.

It was BRAD TARGETT who got the 4th right on the half time whistle as he cut inside down the left and fired a lovely shot straight into the top corner from twenty five yards. HT: 4-0

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Although the early stages of the second half were fairly quiet, Sholing continued their dominance and saw Tobi Falodi fire wide with an angled effort. His fellow wing-back Joe Smith then went on a mazy dribble and cut inside down the left, with his curling shot drifting inches wide of the far post in the fifty-seventh minute. With Carey and Targett both looking for a hat-trick it finally came on 61 minutes. It looked as though Josh Carey was going to get it first, but his fierce shot hammered off the crossbar, bouncing down where BRAD TARGETT outjumped the defender to nod it over the line from close range.

With eighteen minutes left Josh Carey had two efforts brilliantly saved by Horndean keeper Roux Hardcastle, before Targett and Joe Smith dragged shots wide in good positions down the left. The final goal came in the seventy-seventh when HARRY EDMONDSON advanced towards goal and saw his shot blocked, but the ball deflected back into his path to fire home a half-volley into the bottom corner.  Horndean, to their credit, kept going, but couldn't muster an effort on goal of any sort as Aaron Whitmarsh cut a lonely and cold figure patrolling his empty penalty area, not having single save to make in the game.

It was an impressive performance from the Sholing youngsters, giving Dave Diaper food for thought on whether to give some of them game time in tougher matches ahead this season.  Sholing will be at home to Bemerton Heath in the next round on Tuesday 10 March. FT: 6-0

Report by Connor Steel

Next Game : Sholing v Willand Rovers - Southern League - Saturday 3pm

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