Scorers : Turley 92 / Dan Mason 4

Date : Saturday 20th September 2014 - 3:00pm kick off - Southern League South & West

Cinderford Town : 1) Harris, 2) Thomas, 3) Donaghue 4) Sheenan (c) (Morgan 59 mins) 5) Paddock 6) Odiero (Haile 84 mins) 7) Emery 8) Turley 9) Moore 10) Lloyd 11) Preen (Keightley 77 mins) Unused Sub: Nelmes

Sholing : 1) Matt Brown 2) Kevin Brewster 3) Taurean Manders 4) Stuart Mott 5) Jack Smith 6) Alex Sawyer (Macaully Smith 83) 7) Jude Nwachukwu (Kane Crisp 75) 8) Byron Mason (C) 9) Dan Mason 10) Sam Wilson (Nathan Lynch 75) 11) Nick Watts. Unused Subs: 16) Tobi Adenkunle 17) Stuart Hussey

Yellow Card : Jack Smith 66

Attendance : 109

Man of the Match : Jack Smith  

Referee : Dale Wooton.  Assistants : Graham Horsler & Martin Pates

Team News : Following the midweek win over US Portsmouth there were 5 changes 4 enforced changes due to injuries to TJ Cuthbertson, Braiden Hamilton & Mike Byrne, plus Marvin McLean was away at a wedding. It meant Jack Smith filled in at centre back and Kevin Brewster replaced TJ. New signing Sam Wilson made his debut with Tobi Adenkunle dropped down to the bench and Dan Mason coming back into the fold. Nathan Lynch returned from suspension and started on the bench, Kane Crisp also returned from injury and coach Stuart Hussey was also named amongst the substitutes. Dan Miller was unavailable due to work commitments. On the injury front we were still without Alex Baldachinno & Barry Mason.

Sholing kicked off on a sunny day, the early opening exchanges gave an opportunity to Cinderford when a deep corner by George Lloyd found Garyn Preen but put his effort wide. On 3 minutes Sam Wilson was showing why he had been tracked by the Sholing management, he was generating good energy into the side. He worked well with Byron Mason to set up Nick Watts who put his shot wide. However 60 seconds later Sam Wilson again was provider this time for Dan Mason to put the ball away with aplomb. Sholing certainly had the edge in midfield with Byron Mason ruling that part of the field allowing openings for Nick Watts and Jude Nwachukwu. Jude was giving full back Joe Donaghue problems with his pace.

Cinderford had a chance to get on level terms after 15 mins, however, their dangerous winger Garyn Preen had his shot comfortably saved by Matt Brown. Sholing continued to take the game to Cinderford and had Stuart Mott penalized at a corner. Jude Nwachukwu and Sam Wilson were combining well together and keeping the Cinderford defence on the back foot.

Cinderford counter attacks were being led via Garyn Preen who stood out as a potential match winner for them. The work rate generated by both midfields was providing great entertainment, headers from Sam Wilson and Nick Watts set up Alex Sawyer who unleashed a shot from 35 yds.

On 26 minutes Cinderford thought they had equalised when Kieron Thomas hit the Sholing woodwork and Ethan Moore following up the rebound hit the ball tamely to a grateful Matt Brown. Jude Nwachukwu was still causing the full back problems on the right and set up two good chances for Dan Mason. On 40 minutes Keiron Thomas was lucky to escape a yellow card for his foul on Alex Sawyer. At half time it was pleasing to see a positive performance from the side maybe a little low on confidence, but Kev Brewster Byron Mason Jude Nwachukwu & Sam Wilson being the driving force behind most attacks and counter attacks being instigated by Stuart Mott & Jack Smith.  HT 0-1

Sholing again started positively and Dan Mason was caught offside. Alex Sawyer then hit the ball too long for Nick Watts. Early work by Byron Mason, Sam Wilson, Dan Mason, Jude Nwachukwu and Nick Watts saw Taurean Manders pushing well forward but failed to finish. Joe Turley found himself 30 yds out but his shot was weak and Matt Brown dealt with it easily on 53 minutes. In the 56th minute Sam Wilson was fouled about 30 yds out and Kevin Brewster’s free kick buried itself in the side netting. Garyn Preen got past Taurean Manders but Stuart Mott cleared the ball for a corner, Ryan Paddock put his header over the bar.

On 66 minutes a mistake by Taurean Manders resulted in Jack Smith picking up a caution preventing Ethan Moore getting in on the Sholing goal. Cinderford skipper Lorcan Sheenan had to leave the field with an injury and was replaced by Jacob Morgan on 68 mins. On 70 mins Cinderford had a big shout for a penalty when a shot from George Lloyd crashed into the chest of Jack Smith and the referee turned down the appeals.

On 75 minutes fresh legs were introduced by Sholing Kane Crisp and Nathan Lynch replacing Jude Nwachukwu and Sam Wilson. Cinderford also replaced the dangerous Garyn Preen with Elliott Keightly. Then on 80 minutes a Kevin Brewster free kick was met by Byron Mason’s head and was scrambled away by keeper Alex Harris. With 7 minutes remaining both sides made their final changes with Leroy Odiero being replaced by Danny Haile and Macaully Smith replaced Alex Sawyer for Sholing.

Sholing were defending deeper looking to take all the points and frustrate the Cinderford attack however a bit of rest bite when Kevin Brewster took a quick free kick with Alex Harris turning away Nick Watts 20 yard shot for a corner. With game going into stoppage time Cinderford continued to press forward and Macaully Smith was pulled up on halfway for a heavy tackle. Then on 92 mins Cinderford were awarded a soft free kick 25 yds out. Joe Donaghue set himself for the free kick the wall held firm and the ball rebounded to Joe Turley who hit a 1st time left footed shot past a diving Matt Brown. FT 1-1

View from the stands: Overall, many positives and the addition of Sam Wilson gives us more options going forward. Captain Byron Mason led the team with passion and showed everyone why our current position is a false one. Yes, it was disappointing to concede so late into the game, with a number of players lacking game time it was obvious we were going to have to defend the slender lead. But that aside the passion and spirit appears to be back. With no midweek game it gives us 7 days to get ready for the home game against Clevedon Town - Report & Photos by Greg Dickson