Hythe & Dibden 2-5 Sholing
Sholing Scorers : Jake Cope 18, Jake Adams 22 & 66, Wayne Robinson 26 & 36
Date: Tuesday 4 July 2023, 7:45pm – Pre-Season Friendly
Sholing Players Used : Jake Adams, Jake Cope, TJ Cuthbertson, Jake Flanningan, Rob Flooks, Charlie Fox, Jake Hesketh, Byron Mason, Marv McLean, Oliver O'Mahony, Sam Pritchard, Wayne Robinson, Owen Roundell, Brad Targett, Charlie Wagstaffe, Theo Widger
Just 48 days since the last season ended, the Boatmen were back for our first pre-season friendly and typically, also the first heavy rain in 48 days, as we started with a win against Wessex Prem side, Hythe & Dibden
The 3 new Jakes all started, Hesketh, Flannigan & Adams and were to all impress on their first appearances. Byron Mason swept the ball against the post, before the home side hit the crossbar. H&D took the lead on 11 mins when they broke forward and a shot from the edge of the box was saved by Theo, but the rebound was put in by former Boatmen, Cain Prentice.
We equalised on 18 mins, Jake Adams burst through midfield, exchanged passes with Hesketh before feeding JAKE COPE to curl a lovely shot from inside the area over the keeper and into the far corner.
Robinson & Adams had both gone inches close to scoring before we took the lead on 22 mins. Jake Cope's low ball across the 6 yard box found JAKE ADAMS arriving beyond the far post, but from a tight angle he steered his shot in.
4 minutes later, Jake Cope went on a surging run down the left, beating one player before crossing into the middle for WAYNE ROBINSON to score with a nicely taken flick off the outside of his boot.
On 38 minutes, Brad Targett ran from the right flank to the left, got to the byline and his cross was met by WAYNE ROBINSON who bravely slid in at the far post to knock the ball home and collide with the upright, but thankfully, he was fine. After a rusty start, the new look Boatmen quickly settled down and were knocking the ball around at pace. HT 1-4
Some more good chances were created early on in the second half as we kept possession for long periods. Jake Flannigan looked to have scored with a dipping shot, but the H&D keeper pulled off an excellent save. The home side pulled a goal back on 53 mins. A 22 yard freekick was superbly tipped away by Theo Widger, but the loose ball was put back into the middle and flicked home.
On 66 mins, JAKE ADAMS got his second when good work by Wayne Robinson to close down and win the ball off a defender, saw him square to Adams to fire in from 12 yards into the bottom corner.
Three youngsters, who caught Dave Diaper's eye in the recent Sholing Reserves trials, were given a run out in the last 20 minutes as Sholing played keep ball and ticked off our first run out of pre-season. FT 2-5
Next Game : Sholing v Aldershot Town XI - Tuesday 11 July 7:45pm - Imperial Homes Stadium
Hamble Club 2-4 Sholing
Sholing Scorers : Jake Adams 18 & 23, Jake Cope 28, Brad Targett 33
Date: Tuesday 18 July 2023, 7:45pm – Pre-Season Friendly
Sholing Players Used : Jake Adams, Jake Cope, TJ Cuthbertson, Jake Flanningan, Rob Flooks, Charlie Fox, Dean Frampton, Ryan Gosney, Sonny Hanson, Byron Mason, Marv McLean, Sam Mould, Wayne Robinson, Owen Roundell, Brad Targett, Cohwen Whittaker
Sholing scored 4 goals in a 15 minute first half spell of exciting free flowing football as we ran out winners at Hamble Club
Hamble started the better and created several decent early chances, but were unable to work Gosney. Boatmen found their rhythm before taking the lead on 18 minutes. JAKE ADAMS curling a 20 yard freekick over the wall and in off the underside of the crossbar.
We doubled our lead on 23 mins and again JAKE ADAMS was the scorer, drilling a low shot into the bottom corner from just inside the penalty area.
Wayne Robinson was a threat up front with his pace and skill and he set up the third goal, showing good awareness to chip a cross to the far post for JAKE COPE to apply the finish.
Best goal of the game came on 33 minutes as a lovely fast exchange of passes between Adams, Cope & BRAD TARGETT saw Brad break into the box and finish with aplomb past the keeper. Copey was denied a couple of times by the keeper, as was Wayne as an entertaining half came to an end. HT 0-4
The Monks got a goal back on 54 mins when Gos stretched one handed for a cross and was unable to claim it, with the ball falling for a Hamble player to knock into the net.
Jake Flanningan was pulling the strings in midfield, with Jake Adams & Wayne Robinson continuing to create chances. Adams twisted past two defenders before curling an effort that looked destined for the top corner, but he was denied a hat-trick by a superb tip over the bar by the keeper.
With 15 minutes to go, Hamble got another goal back and it was well created and taken effort when a fired in cross from the right was met with a sidefoot volley that gave Gosney no chance.
With a mass rotation of players in the final 10 minutes or so, the game lost its pattern a bit, but it was another high tempo and entertaining pre-season friendly. Thanks to Hamble Club for hosting & for our supporters for popping down the road to watch. FT 2-4
Next Game : Hamworthy United v Sholing - Saturday 22 July 3pm
Sholing 1-0 Aldershot Town U21
Scorer : Own Goal 82
Date: Tuesday 11 July 2023, 7:45pm – Pre-Season Friendly
Sholing Players Used : Jake Adams, Jake Cope, TJ Cuthbertson, Jake Flanningan, Rob Flooks, Charlie Fox, Dean Frampton, Ryan Gosney, Byron Mason, Marv McLean, Sam Pritchard, Wayne Robinson, Owen Roundell, Brad Targett, Charlie Wagstaffe, Theo Widger, Cohwen Whittaker
Boatmen continued our pre-season preparations with a rare home friendly against Aldershot's U21 side and got the win after a bizarre late own goal.
Before the game, there was a very touching & emotional moment as the family, teammates and both teams lined up for a minutes silence for Munir Khedrin. The Sholing Youth U15 Whites player tragically passed away recently. Our hearts go out to his family and all who knew Munir.
Understandably after an outpouring of emotion, which puts everything, including football, into perspective, the game itself was slow to get going. Aldershot settled better on the lush looking Imperial Homes pitch and were moving the ball around well, but lacked the final threat up front to bother Gosney.
A few overhit passes stopped Sholing getting in behind, as well as a couple of debatable offside decisions. On 37 minutes we won a freekick just over 20 yards from the Aldershot goal. Jake Adams stepped up, beat the wall and saw his well struck effort hit the post and come back out, hitting the diving keeper and going out for a corner.
Gosney made up for a loose pass, to palm away the eventual shot from the visitors. Brad Targett cut in from the left flank and tried a whipped in shot that the keeper did well to tip over. HT 0-0
The second half saw a mass change of players by Aldershot, with the Sholing changes coming later in the game. Match kept the same pattern of both sides looking to keep possession as goalmouth action was limited.
Wayne Robinson was lively up front and unfortunate again with an offside call and also when he was dragged back by the neck only to see the freekick given against him. He later fired a cross-shot that the keeper fingertipped over the bar.
Both sides were a bit wayward with their shooting, with Charlie Wagstaffe firing over for Sholing. Aldershot worked an opening, but the shot was straight at Gos. Jake Adam's delivery in the box was looking good, but no Sholing head could take advantage.
On 82 minutes, a goal kick by the Aldershot keeper saw him pass it across his area to a defender, who knocked it to a teammate in the "D" who, without looking, hit a sidefoot pass back to where he thought his keeper was, but he was still stood where he took the goal kick from, so the ball rolled gently into the net for an own goal.
More minutes in the legs for the squad. Thanks to everyone who came out & for Aldershot Town U21's for the competitive game. This season's fixtures are out at Friday lunchtime. FT 1-0
Next Game : Hamble Club v Sholing - Tuesday 18 July 7:45pm
AFC Portchester 2-0 Sholing
Date: Tuesday 25 July 2023, 7:45pm – Pre-Season Friendly
Sholing Players Used : Jake Adams, TJ Cuthbertson, Jake Flanningan, Rob Flooks, Charlie Fox, Dean Frampton, Ryan Gosney, Jake Hesketh, Marv McLean, Sam Mould, Oliver O'Mahony, Wayne Robinson, Dylan Sadler, Brad Targett, Charlie Wagstaffe, Cohwen Whittaker
Boatmen were defeated at AFC Portchester through two second half goals.
We were without, Byron, D-Dan, Copey, Miller & Roundell, but Jake Hesketh played the first half and Wags was back from holiday. Sholing legend, Lee Wort, was playing for Portchester and it felt strange to see him line up against us. Mark Gamble took charge of the side with the Diapes away.
Was an open, end to end first half, with Sholing keeping possession well through midfield, but were guilty a couple of times of delaying the final shot or cross, allowing blocks to come in. Ryan Gosney made two good saves with his feet and another diving save to his right.
Nice link up play saw Brad Targett burst past a couple of challenges as he advanced into the box, but his shot was blocked by a last ditch tackle. Rob Flooks had a header saved and from another corner, an effort was kicked off the line by a Portchester defender.
Jake Flannigan went on a twisting run into the box from the right flank, seemed to be tripped, but the referee rather harshly gave handball against him as he fell onto the ball. Lee Wort raced through, but slid the ball wide of the post before missing another opportunity soon after. HT 0-0
We should have taken the lead early in the second half when Wayne Robinson passed to Oliver O'Mahony in space inside the box, but he opted against a first time shot, cutting back onto his left and firing straight at the keeper.
Robinson was working hard up front on his own and got into a good position down the right flank, but to continue the theme for us tonight, didn't get a shot away quick enough.
As the substitutions came from Sholing, Portchester took the lead on 63 minutes as Marley Ridge's shot inside the box took a big deflection to wrong foot Gosney.
From that point on, the home side were rampant and could have scored a few more. Worty hit the post and blazed over a couple shots when you'd expect to see the net bulge, he wasn't to be his night, but his new team got a deserved second with 4 mins to go when a diagonal found George Barker to control well and hit an angled shot across Gos and into the far corner. FT 2-0
Next Game : Cirencester Town v Sholing - Saturday 29 July 3pm
