Sholing 4-1 Salisbury

Scorers : Owen Roundell 29, Dan Mason 37, Stu Green (pen) 54, Rafa Ramos 87  /  Charlie Davis 88

Date: Saturday 5 September 2020 - 3pm - Pre-Season Friendly

Venue: Mackoy Stadium

Sholing: Ryan Gosney (Luke Deacon), TJ Cuthbertson (Barry Mason), Marv Mclean (Joe Smith), Owen Roundell, Dan Miller, Jamie Bulpitt (Charlie Wagstaffe), Claudio Herbert (Alex Sawyer), Bryon Mason ©, Stuart Green (Nick Watts), Dan Mason (Rafa Ramos), Bradley Targett (Aidan Radford)

Salisbury: Will Betts, Charlie Davis, Antonio Diaz (Lewis Benson), Dom Jeffries (Elliot Wheeler), Jack Ball, Charlie Kennedy (Dan Fitchett), Owen Taylor (Sam Roberts), Darren Mullins, Harry Baker (Sam Brooks), Warren Bentley (Josh Summerton), Diego Romero

Referee: Tim Godfrey  Assistants: Rob Linter & Krasimir Petrov

Attendance: 111

After 178 days, Football finally returned to a revamped & improved Mackoy Stadium, with Sholing putting in an impressive performance to win big against Southern League Premier side, Salisbury. Goals came from Owen Roundell, Dan Mason, Stu Green & Rafa Ramos as Dave Diaper gave run outs to all the players he had at his disposal.  Also starting was Claudio Herbert, the former Salisbury & Basingstoke player had tweeted his availability in the week and the Boatmen with the help of Agent Green, quickly pounced to get him on board.

Sholing had the majority of possession within the opening spell, but sadly couldn’t convert into any notable chances despite a number of set piece opportunities. Down the other end, Salisbury looked dangerous on the counter attack with Owen Taylor and Diego Romero linking up, but Dan Miller snuffed out this half opportunity in the ninth minute. The visitors then had the first shot as Harry Baker set up Warren Bentley who fired harmlessly over the crossbar with his high and curling effort.

The cagey nature of this friendly continued until the 25th minute, when Sholing created their first opening of proceedings. Dan Mason seized upon a mistake from Jack Ball, before taking an angled shot that cannoned off the outside of the post. Sixty seconds later Ryan Gosney was forced into a low block from Baker, before the rebound was skewed wide under pressure from the home defence.

Sholing grabbed the opening goal on 29 minutes when Stu Green's freekick from the left side of the penalty area was swung into the 6 yard box, where under pressure from Byron Mason & Dan Miller, the Salisbury keeper couldn't claim the ball cleanly, with it falling beyond him where OWEN ROUNDELL quickly reacted to smash it home through a crowd of bodies at the far post.

Two minutes later Claudio Herbert’s ambitious effort was fumbled out for a corner by Will Betts, before the Boatmen brilliantly doubled their lead on 37 minutes. A ball forward in the right channel, was flicked brilliantly into the path of Stu Green in space down the right, the linesman and his flowing locks indicated he was onside and the midfielder advanced at pace and fired in a cross along the edge of the penalty area, which reached DAN MASON who hit a controlled first time effort that curled beautifully into the far top corner.  HT: 2-0

At half time, Luke Deacon took over the gloves from Gosney and Barry Mason & Charlie Wagstaffe also coming on. Despite Salisbury getting a flea in the ear at half time from Steve Claridge (we might have to look at sound proofing in the new away changing rooms!) The Boatmen remained on top and took advantage of sloppy play in the visitors defence after the restart. Brad Targett was put through on goal, but saw his effort always rising. Targett & Green were all over the left side of Salisbury's back line and it was no surprise when Sholing extended their lead in the 54th minute. More confusion between Betts and his defence saw Brad Targett win the ball and he was about to tap into the empty net when he was rugby tackled for the most stonewall penalty in the history of football.  The ref was feeling generous by not even booking the Salisbury player for what would normally be a straight red.  STU GREEN stepped up and dispatched the penalty with aplomb against his former side.

The usual mass substitutions from the 60 minutes mark onwards, saw Nick Watts make his return to the Red & White stripes.  Claudio Herbert, who had impressed and signed up straight after the match, went off with Alex Sawyer replacing him. Joe Smith, Rafa Ramos & Aidan Radford also came on for the final 15 minutes or so.

Sholing scored their fourth goal in the 87th minute when Aidan Radford sped past the last man and squared a low cross for the arriving RAFA RAMOS to open his body up and side foot into the far corner from 8 yards. Salisbury gained a consolation goal straight from the restart when Charlie Davis let fly from twenty-five yards with a spectacular dipping shot into the top corner.   The final whistle saw Sholing gain an impressive, deserved win and the visiting side sent to the far corner of the pitch by their manager to do 20 minutes of training, which was being observed by the Sholing lads who had already changed and were having a pint on the new clubhouse patio.  FT 4-1

Today's win was dedicated to Ray Tyrrell, who is so sorely missed by everyone at the club. RIP Raymondo.

Thanks to all our volunteers for getting the ground ready and looking fantastic and for coping so well with new facilities and the Covid requirements.  Good luck to Salisbury FC for the new season.

Report by Connor Steel

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