Sholing 0-0 Cinderford Town

Scorers :

Date: Saturday 6th November 2021, 3pm – Southern League South Division 1

Venue:  Mackoy Stadium

Sholing: Ryan Gosney, Tomasz Gruzewski (Jake Cope 69), Marv McLean, Mitch Byrne (Josh Batt 25), Dan Miller, Rob Nicholls, Claudio Herbert, Byron Mason ©, Dan Mason, Sami Makhloufi, Brad Targett.  Unused subs : Joe Adams, Martin Buckland, Jack Mann

Yellow Card: Sami Makhloufi, Brad Targett
Red Card : Claudio Herbert

Cinderford Town: Nick Jones, Sammie Hicks (Jack Meredith 90), Tristan Haswell, Luke Payne, Dion Molyneux, Ashley Davies ©, Camden Duncan (Owen Taylor 79), Lewis Spurrier, Ben Brooks, Jack Freeman, Harry Emmett.  Unused sub : Will Morford

Yellow Card : Luke Payne, Dion Molyneux, Lewis Spurrier

Referee:  Harry Scott   Assistants: Adam Hillier & Harvey Small

Attendance: 153

Sholing claimed a point and a clean sheet after finishing the game with 10 men.  The match saw both defences on top and clear chances at a premium, but at least it breaks the run of defeats for the Boatmen and gives us something to build upon.

Before the game, Trevor Lewis and a representative from Cinderford, laid a Poppy Wreath on the centre circle as they were joined by the teams, management and supporters in two minutes of remembrance for those who have lost their lives during conflicts.

Team News : Two players made their debut, Sami Makhloufi, who joined us from Blackfield & Langley and 17 year old Tomasz Gruzewski, a right back from our U18/U23s.  Another new face on the bench was Josh Batt, an 18 year old central defender, who has been playing University football in America.  Dan Miller returned to the line-up, enabling Byron Mason to move into midfield.  Sami took the No10 shirt & supported Dan Mason in attack.  Still missing through injury were Stu Green, Charlie Wagstaffe & Jake Hoole.  Ryan Cluett & Conor Whiteley were unavailable.  Both sides were without a win in 7 games, although last week, Cinderford had advanced on penalties in the FA Trophy, defeating Thatcham Town, who had put Sholing out in similar fashion.

It was the visitors who had the first chance on 5 minutes, but a shot was put a yard wide.  Sami fed a nice ball into the area for Targett to run onto, but he was closed down with the ball put out for a corner, that came to nothing.  The closest Sholing were to come to scoring, happened in the 13th minute when the lively Sami Makhloufi cut in from the left and smacked an 18 yard right foot shot that clipped the crossbar.  The new boy was catching the eye and a defence splitting pass saw Claudio in a race with the keeper, but the Cinderford stopper just got there first.

Another injury blow to the Boatmen with Mitch Byrne having to go off before the half hour mark, with Josh Batt coming on to replace him.  Dan Mason was fed into the right channel, he held off his marker, but his shot was comfortable for the keeper.  Boatmen had a couple of freekicks in the same spot outside the area, but both efforts by Claudio & Dan were straight into the wall.   A deep cross by Targett caused confusion at the far post with Claudio sneeking in between keeper & defender, but knowing little about it, Jones in goal got something on Claudio's prodded effort to deflect it away.

Right on half time, Cinderford had their best chance of the game when a corner was clawed out by Gosney with the ball dropping in the 6 yard box, but the Cinderford player blazed over from close range.   HT 0-0

Some good link-up play saw Dan Mason flick the ball into the path of the overlapping Brad Targett, but he delayed his shot just a fraction too long, allowing a block to come in.   Sami picked up a harsh booking for his first foul of the game, meanwhile Tomasz rolled his ankle under a challenge that left the young fullback writhing in agony and needing a lot of treatment on the sidelines before having to make way, with Jake Cope coming on and Claudio going to right back.

Both defences remained on top, although Sholing were looking the more attack minded of the two teams.  Jake Cope injected some pace down the left and he cut in from the flank and let fly with a curling effort that went narrowly wide of the far post.   Byron connected well with a shot from the right side of the area, but it flashed across the face of goal and wide.

On 84 minutes, Claudio went into a 50/50 challenge and appeared to take the ball first before contact with the Cinderford player, but the away side were quick to surround the referee and he decided it was a straight red.  A man down, Sholing weren't really troubled by the visitors in the closing moments as both sides looked resigned to take a point and move onto their next games.  FT 0-0

Next Game :  Barnstaple Town v Sholing - Southern League - Saturday 13th November 3pm

Photos courtesy of HR Media & EspieJaz (swipe to view pics)

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