Sholing Development 4-0 Liss Athletic Reserves

Scorers: Marlon Mason 13, 57, Liam Attrill 28, Jamie Staples 45+2

Date:  Saturday 23rd September 2017 – 3pm kick off – Wyvern League East

Venue: The Universal Stadium

Sholing : Josh Helm [c], Jack Fisher, Jack Attrill, Mo Aslami, Harry Butler, Liam Attrill (Frazer McLean 59), Tanaka Madzvamutse (Connor Pearson 72), Owen Royl, Marlon Mason, Jamie Blackburn (Bradley Targett 59), Jamie Staples. Subs not used: Harvey Craig & Aaron Whitmarsh

Liss Athletic: Alfie Hanvey, Leigh Ewing, Ross Betteridge, Stuart Boyes, Mark Charrington, John Collington (Gary Gibson 71), Dave Hoare, Dean Conger-Thompson, John Davis [c] (Martin Howe 42), Dan Cole, Ant Kirby. 

Yellow Card: Martin Howe & Ross Betteridge

Attendance: 35   Referee: Sam Harvey   Man of the Match: Harry Butler

Sholing's development side were Four-ceful enough to keep Liss Athletic rooted to the foot of the table. Despite leading at half time 3-0 Asst Man Curtis Osborne was disappointed with the sides play and demanded a more polished performance in the 2^nd half which they displayed but were only rewarded for their hard work with a penalty. 

Team News: Yet again Sholing had a changed line up with players away and called up to the first team and injured Ryan Farrant watching from the side lines also missing was injured Callum Waughman. Steve Blackburn had the luxury of having Owen Royl playing as he was unable to make the early start with the first team away to Portland due to him having to work until lunch time. Skipper Duncan Brown & striker Rory Wood were both away so recent signing Mo Aslami made his home debut. 

The game was watched by a sparse crowd with Sholing donning their new sponsored kit. The opening exchanges saw Sholing on the front foot but could not breakdown the resilient Liss defence. However the deadlock was eventually broken when Marlon Mason slotted the ball home on thirteen minutes.  Then bizarrely on twenty minutes the referee pointed out that there were no corner flags on the pitch, which were hastily replaced by sub Aaron Whitmarsh. The game was very much in a stop start mode with some strange refereeing decisions confusing and frustrating the players from both sides. Then almost on the half hour Sholing doubled their lead when Liam Attrill had the simplest of goals to score. Even thou Sholing looked comfortable on the ball they couldn’t get their momentum going but at the same time Liss were doing very little to trouble Josh Helm in the Sholing goal. Then just before half time Liss captain John Davis after some lengthy treatment had to the leave the field of play and was replaced by Martin Howe. With the game in stoppage time due to the injury Jamie Staples scored his first Development goal. HT 3-0

Sholing can out for the second half and were playing with more assertiveness and utilising TK & Jamie Staples down the flanks. The officiating decisions were no different from the first half and Sholing benefited from one such decision when TK Madzvamutse won the ball and drove into the penalty but he had appeared to lose the ball which was going away from the goal, the referee adjudged the winger had been fouled much to the amazement of keeper Alfie Hanvey. Marlon Mason stepped up and put the spot kick past the Liss shot stopper on fifty two minutes. With the game now comfortable for Sholing Steve Blackburn made a double substitution bringing on Frazer McLean (2 goal hero 48 hours earlier in the FA Youth cup) and a debut for 16 year old Bradley Targett (younger brother of Saints player Matt Targett). Jamie Blackburn & Liam Attrill made way for the two youngsters. The Liss team now becoming more disjointed by the high intensity play that Sholing were producing showed their frustration when sub Martin Howe was cautioned and then followed closely by Ross Betteridge.

Liss were struggling with the pace of the second half and were looking for every bit of rest bite they could get. Defender Jon Collington was really struggling and needed to be replaced however manager Gary Gibson Liss only other sub was reluctant to replace him but eventually they were forced to make the change on seventy one minutes. Steve Blackburn made his final change bringing on Connor Pearson for TK Madzvamutse with fifteen minutes remaining. The referee was again key in the next phase of play when Liss goalkeeper Alfie Hanvey clearly brought down Marlon Mason but no penalty was awarded this time. Bradley Targett was looking comfortable in midfield and made a good account of himself for his debut and Frazer McLean’s maturity is growing with every game he plays for the development side. Sholing now are unbeaten in four matches since their Soton Senior Cup exit. FT 4-0

Photos by Ray Routledge