Sholing3 1TeamSolent

Scorers :  Dan Mason 7 & 11, Alex Sawyer 71  /  Pip Nolan 25

Date : Saturday 28th November 2015 - 3pm kick off - Sydenhams Wessex Premier

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, Alex Sawyer, James Davis, Owen Roundell, Dan Miller, Jamie Bulpitt, Barry Mason, Byron Mason [c], Dan Mason (Nick Yeomans 56), Doug Rowe (Jake Hoole 75), Marv McLean  Subs not used: Kevin Brewster, Dena Faithfull, Lee Webber

Yellow Card : 

Team Solent : Antoni Jimenez, Adeoyo Olumiayiwa, Myles Keizer-Burrows, Ellis White, Olly Goddard [c], Jim Orvis, Pat Nolan, Steven Black, Martin Johnson (James Taylor 75), Tobi Adekunle, Matt Sheedy  Subs not used: Sam Steel, Josh Brimacombe, George Passingham

Yellow Card : Pip Nolan

Attendance : 87

Man of the Match : Dan Mason

Referee : Paula Wyatt  Assistants: Nigel Gibbens & Harry Redman

DAN Mason’s excellent scoring form continued as his brace helped Sholing to a 3-1 win against Team Solent. The Boatmen have only lost once in November, with prolific marksman, Dan Mason taking his tally to six in that period and 25 for the season.

Another brace today - his fourth in his last five starts - put Sholing in a dominating position. Team Solent were able to draw one back, setting up an interesting second half, before Alex Sawyers free-kick secured the points.

Team News : Dave Diaper made two changes at the back, bringing in Alex Sawyer at right back and Owen Roundell into central defence.  Team Solent had 3 ex Sholing players in their starting line-up and also 3 ex Boatmen in their Coaching team.

It looked as though Sholing could be in for an easy afternoon, flying into an early lead. A clearance - carried by the wind - was allowed to bounce by skipper Olly Goddard, and seized upon by DAN MASON. The striker then charged at Antoni Jimenez, rounding him to slot into an open goal.

He doubled Sholing’s lead a few minutes later. James Davis’s floated free-kick was aimed towards Byron Mason. Sholing’s captain then flicked the ball onto his brother DAN MASON, whose clever downward header back across goal found the bottom corner. The Boatmen were almost out of sight after 15 minutes. Jimenez’ poor clearance fell to Barry Mason, but the midfielders half-volley from 40 yards slowly bent away from the goal to spare the ‘keepers blushes.

Team Solent - who were without star striker Jesse Waller-Lassen - slowly grew into the half. Tobi Adekunle - returning to the Silverlake Arena for the first time since his move in October - fired in a cross which, when partially cleared, fell to Steven Black, whose deflected shot trickled agonisingly past the post. When Jim Orvis was played through minutes later, he too dragged his shot wide of Ryan Gosneys post.

Solent got back into the game with a scruffy goal on 25 minutes. Ex-Sholing player, Pip Nolan’s header following a corner, fell into a crowd of bodies, and crept over the line with Ryan Gosney claiming it hadn't.  However, linesman Nigel Gibbens immediately raised his flag to give the goal.

As they pressed for an equaliser, Nolan’s precise pass found Adekunle, who ran one-on-one with stand-in right back Alex Sawyer. His shot brushed Sawyer, and wrong footed Gosney, unluckily for him, the shot clipped off of the post.

With moments left in the first half, Davis well struck 30-yard volley was held by Jimenez. HT 2-1

Sholing started the second half with Doug Rowe winning a dangerous free-kick. Sawyer - on free-kick duty in the absence of Kevin Brewster - whipped his delivery to Dan Miller, but the defender couldn't direct his header on target.

Former Sholing coach, Mick Marsh, and his Solent team did start to make the most of the windy conditions. When Matt Sheedy received a square ball in space, he passed up the opportunity to shoot, instead trying to slip in Adekunle and wasting the chance.

While they were having the most of the play, without fashioning a clear chance, Sholings top marksman was struggling with injury. Dan Mason left the pitch, and despite returning the field of play was quickly swapped with Nick Yeomans.

The University side did then make a clear effort. A floated ball fell to Martin Johnson but his point blank header was smartly pushed over the bar by Gosney.

At the other end Sholing were struggling to work the goalkeeper. Byron Mason worked his way into space, but shanked his shot wide. Moments later his deft ball over the top was headed on by Rowe, who drew a foul.

From a similar position, ALEX SAWYER again elected to whip the ball in. However with extra pace on the ball it whistled through a crowded box and through the hands on the blind-sighted Jimenez to restore the Boatmens two-goal cushion.

Although Solent pushed to get back into the game, Matt Sheedy’s free-kick was the closest they came to beating Gosney. Former Sholing striker and Team Solent player manager, James Taylor, sent his speculative volley soaring out of the ground.

Nick Yeomans had chances to extend Sholing’s lead. He showed a nice turn of pace to test the palms of Jiminez, and he was only inches away from getting his head on the end of Jamie Bulpitts fierce cross following a surging run.

But Sholing had already done enough, and despite not being at their best, were able to see the game out. FT 3-1

Photos by Ray Routledge (click an image to enlarge)

Sholing v Team Solent from Martin Johnson on Vimeo.