Scorers :  Ethan Phillips 8 & 54

Date : Saturday 21st March 2015 - 3:00pm kick off - Evo-Stik League Southern South & West Division 1

Tiverton Town : Chris Wright, Jake Wannell, Hussien Heidari, Matt Bye (George Rogers 86 mins), Steve Goss, Tom Gardiner, Jimmy Hinds (Oliver Seymour 71 mins), James Richards [c], Tony Lee, Dan Western, Ethan Phillips Unused Subs: Josh Searle , Ben Bowhay

Yellow Card :  Matt Bye

Sholing : Rory Anderson, Kevin Brewster, Sam Olaofe (Joe Griggs 79 mins), Jack Smith, TJ Cuthbertson, Alex Sawyer, Barry Mason, Byron Mason [c] (Les Mwenze 77 mins), Dan Mason, Lewis Blackmore (Marvin McLean 74 mins), Nick Watts.   Unused Subs: Tobi Adekunle,  Matt Brown

Yellow Card :  Sam Olaofe

Attendance : 156

Man of the Match :  Alex Sawyer

Referee : Marc Whaley (Plymouth) Assistant Referees: Stuart Kane (Saltash) & Sean Rothwell (Plymouth)

Team News: Dan Miller didn’t travel due to the knock he took on his Achilles last week. Sam Olaofe returned to 1st team action and Lewis Blackmore made his 1st team debut following his midweek appearance for the reserves. Rory Anderson replaced Matt Brown who dropped to the bench. The squad was rotated with Joe Griggs also dropping to the bench along with Tobi Adekunle and Nick Watts stepping up. Tiverton made one change from their 4-1 away defeat to Merthyr skipper James Richards replaced George Rogers. 18 year old Southampton born Tony Lee lined up again in attack for Tivvy.

The game kicked off and Lewis Blackmore was first to show why he had been brought into the Sholing squad chasing down a back pass to keeper Chris Wright, will at the other end Sholing keeper Rory Anderson looked initially a little nervy. Strange fact of the day despite the searing sunshine neither keeper decided to wear a cap.

Dan Mason held up a long pass before laying the ball off to skipper brother Byron who played the ball out wide to Kevin Brewster but his poor cross was easily dealt with. Sholing won the first free kick of the day when Jack Smith was fouled. Sam Olaofe was exuding energy with some overlaps down the left working well with Nick Watts keeping Tivvy on the back foot much too the annoyance of the Tivvy fans who were getting frustrated with their teams performance.

Then on 8 minutes Ethan Phillips was given space and worked his way through the middle of Sholing and from 25yds hit a speculative shot which eluded everyone and beat Rory Anderson low down by his left hand post. This was slightly against the run of play on the opening 8 minutes. The next couple of minutes once again saw some strange decisions from the match officials. Tony Lee was adjudged to have fouled Rory Anderson, then Alex Sawyer clearly fouled with no foul given. Alex needed attention and had to leave the field of play but the referee was reluctant to allow him to return despite him being ready to return and it took another 2 minutes before this happened.

A good build up from Sam Olaofe throw in to Barry Mason who found Kevin Brewster set up Nick Watts but he shot tamely at keeper Wright who had to readjust and clear with his foot. Dan Mason was clearly set as a target man and Lewis Blackmore received the ball but was bundled off the ball fairly according to the referee.

Alex Sawyer continued to press and his cross found Barry Mason who won another corner. Kev Brewster corner found Nick Watts who re-fed Kev Brewster but his cross was easily collected by the keeper.

Kev Brewster fed Lewis Blackmore but again only shot tamely at the keeper. Dan Mason won yet another corner but once again Brewster’s corner was easily cleared. Sholing were clearly looking to get back on level terms and this showed the difference in the two keepers with Wright the busier of the two and Anderson a virtual spectator. Alex Sawyer chased down the ball and won another corner. Sholing were denied another foul on Alex Sawyer. With Kevin Brewster spending most of the half taking corners he was called upon to cut out a cross at the other end setting Barry Mason away who linked up with Byron and Alex Sawyer who again found Barry on the right who beat the defender but the bobbly pitch allowed the ball to run away from him. The frustration in the game was making the game become scrappy and the niggling fouls were going unpunished.

The re-jigged Sholing back four were working well catching Tony Lee offside again. Once again the Sholing build up was thwarted when Lewis Blackmore was penalised for a foul on the Tivvy defender inside the 18yd area. Sam Olaofe again worked his way forward making 35 yds before being stopped by Jake Wannell. Then on 32 mins Sholing had a chance to equalise when Alex Sawyer found Nick Watts but again his 1st time shot went wide. Sholing again pressing forward won three consecutive corners but failed to make them pay. Tiverton

again were caught offside. Byron Mason challenged Tony Lee in the air and appeared to catch the Tivvy forward with his arm everyone stopped but the referee continued. The referee eventually stopped play to allow Lee to receive treatment. Byron Mason hit the ball back to keeper Wright and with Lee ready to come back on to the field once again the referee overlooked this for a while, much to the anger of the Tiverton management.  HT 1-0

Sholing again started the half on the front foot with Barry Mason winning another corner. Then Sholing had another chance to level things up when a deep cross found the head of Lewis Blackmore which fell to Nick Watts whose shot was saved. On 51 mins Sam Olaofe was beaten by Tony Lee who recovered to foul the Tiverton player and earn the first caution of the game.

On 52 mins Tiverton wrapped up the game in bizarre circumstances 1st half goalscorer Ethan Phillips was out on the left hand touchline when his 30 yardd cross looked to be claimed by an unchallenged Rory Anderson only to see the ball nestle in the back of the net again much against the run of play.

Matt Bye becomes the 2nd player to be cautioned when he fouled Byron Mason. From the free kick a back header is tipped on to the bar by Chris Wright the corner falls to Barry Mason who hits his shot wide. Tiverton win a free kick on half way and skipper Richards tests Rory Anderson from 45 yds but the keeper stands firm. On 71 mins Tiverton make 1st sub bring on Oliver Seymour for Jimmy Hinds a minute later Tiverton win their 1st corner followed swiftly by their 2nd but only manage to shoot higher over the Sholing goal. On 74 mins having only started his 2nd game in 4 days Lewis Blackmore was replaced by Marvin McLean.

Tiverton looked a little livelier with the introduction of Seymour and a free kick fell to Tony Lee who saw his shot saved by Anderson but was adjudged to be offside.

With Byron Mason clearly struggling with an injury on 77 mins was replaced by Les Mwenze, Les was quickly involved in the action linking up with Sam Olaofe who found Marvin McLean who won yet another corner. This was Sam Olaofe’s last piece of action being replaced by Joe Griggs. A few minutes later Sholing won their 20th corner of the game despite all this pressure Sholing couldn’t penetrate a stern Tiverton defence and they continued to press forward in search of a goal. Sholing’s build up play again good work between Joe Griggs, Les Mwenze allowed Marvin McLean to cross for Nick Watts but his header was easily saved by Wright. With 4 mins remaining Tiverton made a tactical change bringing off the already cautioned Matt Bye for George Rogers.

Barry Mason was again fouled and Kevin Brewster had his shot parried away you guessed it for yet another corner. In the dying embers of the game Jack Smith’s cross found Dan Mason but shot over the bar and moments later Dan Mason was again denied when he was bundled off the ball following Marvin McLean’s cross.  FT 2-0

View from the stand: A very frustrating day with 24 corners to the oppositions 2 corners should have given us a chance to score goals today. However, we are still missing a killer instinct, despite workmanlike performances from several players. Two plusses was the introduction of Lewis Blackmore and the return of Sam Olaofe both need match time to get fitness levels right. With Dan Miller & Matt Brown both away shortly in the USA changes are paramount the squad needs to dig deep especially as Byron is not 100% at the moment. With the season looking like we will now finish 17th players will be looking at the Senior Cup Final showpiece hopefully they will be back on track and be playing like they did against AFC Bournemouth, starting this Saturday at home against league leaders Merthyr Town and avenge our last game with them.