AFC Stoneham 0-0 Sholing

Scorers :

Date: Tuesday 25th August 2020 - 7:45pm - Pre-Season Friendly

Venue: Stoneham Lane

Sholing: Ryan Gosney, TJ Cuthbertson, Liam Crook, PJ McLean, Owen Roundell, Charlie Wagstaffe, Byron Mason, Alex Sawyer, Brad Targett, Stu Green, Dan Mason.  Subs Used : Dan Miller, Jamie Bulpitt, Joe Smith, Aidan Radford & Rafa Ramos

Attendance: 70ish

The previous time we played at Stoneham it was during a howling gale and driving rain, but that was in January, so it was even less pleasant to experience similiar conditions in August.  The weather did effect the game, with neither side able to find the net.

Team News : Marv & Barry were unavailable and with the U23's in action at the same time, there was a smaller squad than for our other pre-season games.  Boatmen wore our smart new black & white change kit for the first time.

Stoneham started the brighter on the 3G surface and thumped an effort off the crossbar from distance after 2 mins.  This was followed by Ryan Gosney having to make two decent stops in quick succession as it took until 16 mins for Sholing to get deep into the home side's half.  It was a good opportunity, created by a nice ball lifted into Alex Sawyer as he broke into the box, but his cross shot was well tipped round the far post by the keeper.

Further chances for Sholing saw Byron head wide and then a 20 yard freekick by Liam Crook flash across goal, but not worry the keeper.   Crooky, playing left back, was putting in some decent crosses and set pieces, but defences on both sides stayed on top as the half came to an end.  HT 0-0

Stu Green broke away down the right wing and put over a lovely cross for Dan Mason, who beat the centrehalf to the header, but it went agonisingly wide of the upright.   Brad Targett went on a lung busting run from his own half, but blasted his effort over.    Stoneham looked more comfortable on the artificial surface and got themselves into a number of good shooting positions, but most the efforts were straight at Gosney.

Despite it being a friendly, a poor challenge in the centre circle left Stu Green in a heap and after treatment, he went off.   With the rain still lashing across the pitch, the final action of the game probably should have seen the Boatmen nick the win.  Good vision from Joe Smith, saw him slide the ball into the feet of the unmarked Jamie Bulpitt, who checked back and with the keeper to beat, put his effort wide.    FT 0-0

More minutes in the legs for the players and we remain unbeaten in pre-season, but a horrible night to play and watch football.  But it was great to see Sholing fans back at a game at long last.