Scorers : Barry Mason 90 + 2   /  Ami Rosario 76

Date : Wednesday 16th March 2016 - 7:45pm - Sydenhams Wessex Premier

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, Kevin Brewster, Marv McLean, Dean Faithfull, Dan Miller (Owen Roundell 62) Jamie Bulpitt, Barry Mason [c], Alex Sawyer, Dan Mason, Nick Yeomans, Jake Hoole.  Subs not used: Lee Webber, Pete Castle, Byron Mason, Jack Smith

Yellow Card :

Bournemouth Poppies : Elliott Broome, Will Lambert, Manny Ohameje, Chris Speers, Jon Blake, Chia Khider, Bryce Banfield, Ami Rosario, Dominic Allen, Fawzi Saadi [c], Dan Brennan.  Subs not used: Sam Turner, Jack Devaney

Yellow Card : 

Attendance : 52

Man of the Match : Marv McLean

Referee : Jake Topp  Assistants: Rod Burt & Eilidh Currie

SHOLING rescued a point against a challenging Poppies side, with Barry Mason’s late strike salvaging something for the Boatmen. With the game drifting towards a goalless draw, Ami Rosario popped up to give the visitors the lead. But with the points destined for Bournemouth, Barry Masons incredible - if not entirely intentional - strike broke Poppies hearts in the last minute. Indeed the away side will be sick of the sight of Sholing having also lost to Nick Yeomans wonder goal in the last minute of the reverse fixture.

A point was certainly well deserved by the Poppies, with Rosario coming close on several occasions in the first quarter of an hour. His first effort came just a few minutes in but his powerful effort was palmed away by Ryan Gosney and cleared by the returning Dan Miller.

When Bournemouth’s number eight, Rosario, found more space, twisting in the area, it took another perfect Miller tackle to clear the danger. Gosney almost gifted a the forward a comical goal when his clearance cannoned off of Rosario’s back but fell kindly into the relieved goalkeepers arms.

Sholing needed 12 minutes to fashion a chance. Barry Mason worked a cross and although Nick Yeomans was able to get a foot on the skippers ball, he couldn't generate the power to beat Elliott Broome.

As the Boatmen uncharacteristically struggled to get the ball forward, Rosario once again came close with an improvised header. With half an hour played Dominic Allen came closest to opening the scoring. However his header was cleared from under Gosney’s bar.

Moments later the forward worked enough space for a shot, but Gosney was equal to the effort. For Sholing, chances were few and far between and Jamie Bulpitt’s goal bound strike was the best the hosts could muster in a frustrating first half.

And the Boatmen’s struggles were summed up when Allen’s hopeful shot ricocheted kindly into the path of Rosario, but despite the forwards precise finish an on-form Gosney was on hand to acrobatically push the ball away. HT 0-0

Sholing started the second half the brighter of the two sides. Alex Sawyer’s 40 yard half volley that was claimed by a back peddling keeper, was speculative but showed signs of intent.

Ten minutes into the second half, Dan Miller clashed with Jon Blake in the middle of the park and was clearly rattled. His skewed clearance dropped for Allen, although the forwards shot was gathered by Ryan Gosney.

The injury eventually forced the defender off, but then came Sholing’s best chance. Jake Hoole was played into space, but when one on one, the teenager couldn’t angle his shot past Broome who gratefully palmed the ball away.

The substitution seemed to have changed the dynamic of the game too. With the Poppies front line playing deeper, Sholing found more time on the ball and were able to get beyond the visiting defence. Dan Mason’s squared ball found Hoole and his curling shot was headed away. The following corner dropped back to Kevin Brewster and the defender was able to redeliver to Yeomans although the youngster got minimal contact on his scissor kick.

A following Brewster corner was met by Barry Mason but the winger, again, couldn't apply the finishing touch. And a third Brewster cross was also met, this time by substitute Owen Roundell, with the keeper doing amazingly well to reach behind himself to claw the ball off the line.

But as the hosts were finally in control of the game they were hit by a sucker punch. A harshly awarded free-kick on the left hand side was whipped in by Fawzi Saadi and poked in at the near post by the ever threatening Rosario.

The Boatmen pressed for a leveller, and Barry Masons cross unfortunately evaded the gathering strikers and Nick Yeomans and Dan Mason both missed chances to add to their impressive goal tallies.

However, with no sign of a goal, a stroke of luck saw Sholing level. BARRY MASON's cross from 30 yards out on the angle, intended for Dan, looped over his brothers head and over the outstretched arms of Elliott Broome, nestling into the top corner and sparing Boatmens blushes.  FT 1-1

Report By Ollie Harvey

View from the stands:  As Dave Diaper is fond of telling his players, "if you can't get the three, get the one" and in a scrappy match from Sholing's perspective, we managed to get a deserved point.  Bournemouth played very well in the first half, belaying their league position with a display of pace and good passing, coupled with quick closing down of the Sholing midfield. Boatmen improved in the second half as the visitors appeared to tire, although their goal out of nothing boosted their running and I'm sure they'll feel hard done by to have not won the game. 

Thanks to our supporters for coming out on a bitterly cold night.

Next home game is on Saturday against Alresford Town, 3pm

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