Sholing2 0Hamworthy

Scorers :  Dan Mason 3, 57

Date : Saturday 2nd April 2016 - 3pm - Sydenhams Wessex Premier

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, Alex Sawyer, Jack Smith, Kieran Winman, Dan Miller, Jake Hoole (Jamie Bulpitt 83), Barry Mason, Byron Mason [c], Dan Mason, Zach Glasspool, Lee Wort (Nick Yeomans 87)  Subs not used: Dean Faithfull, Liam Attrill, Lee Webber

Yellow Card :  Alex Sawyer, Zach Glasspool

Hamworthy United : Gerard Banfield, Stefan Penny (Ben Satterley 55), Jordan Cole, Billy Walker, Kane Daysh [c], Nick Swann, Brad Gayle, Jack Satterley, Morgan Turner, Matt Kemble (Dan Haysom 71), Connor Phillips

Yellow Card : Jack Satterley

Attendance : 84

Man of the Match : Dan Mason

Referee : Sean Jenkins  Assistants: Thomas McGhee & Stuart Carter

Dan Mason's 10th brace of the season eased Sholing to a comfortable victory over Hamworthy. With Blackfield & Langley and Andover finishing level, the Boatmen enjoyed the first sunny Saturday since September and moved to within seven points of second place with a game in hand.

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Team News : Marv was away & Kev Brewster injured, so Jack Smith & Alex Sawyer fitted in as full backs.  Kieran Winman became the 10th player from the Development Squad to make his debut this season, partnering Birthday Boy Dan Miller at centre back. Before the game, Alex Sawyer & Dan Mason received awards from Gerry Roberts marking their 200 appearance milestone for the club.  There was also a minutes silence for Wessex League founder, Alf Peckham, who sadly passed away this week.

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The visiting Hammers were allowed the first chance as Jack Satterley was quickest to Byron Mason’s lackadaisical touch but his first time effort whistled wide.

One secret of Sholing’s success at home this season has been their electric starts, and once again they flew into an early lead. Despite shouts for penalty during the build-up, Barry Masons blocked shot fell to debutant Kieran Winman and the youngster showed great composure on the ball to pick out DAN MASON. The striker turned brightly into space and fired a powerful shot ricocheting off of the far post and past Gerard Banfield.

Although Matt Kemble looked to inspire a comeback on his own, Sholing slowly took control of the half. Barry Mason shot early when running into space, as the team looked to capitalise on a shaky opening from Banfield.

The visiting goalkeeper had already spilled two crosses, and almost gifted away a second goal after misjudging a back pass. Some drastic redirection was needed to scramble to ball away from the toes of Dan Mason.

Sholing almost crafted a beautiful goal, building on their pressure with a ball to the goalscorer. The striker fed Zach Glasspool who in turn slipped the ball through the Jake Hoole. The midfielder was able to burst into space but could have done better with his finish as he toepoked it into the keepers arms.

A vocal Hamworthy side, slowly grew into the contest, and Dan Miller - celebrating his 22nd birthday - was needed on more than one occasion to clear threading deliveries.

The one cross that evaded the centre back fell kindly for Jack Satterley however Ryan Gosney was on hand to get down smartly and quell the danger.

The half ended with Hamworthy taking the ascendancy, Matt Kemble’s quick thinking saw him loft a volley - after miscommunication from the Boatmen back line - and a concerned Gosney could only watch the ball fly narrowly over his crossbar.

Lee Wort looked to add to his match winning penalty against Brockenhurst wriggling into space and jinking past two defenders, however he didn't connect cleanly with his shot, scuffing it wide. HT 1-0

A defensive error allowed Byron Mason to steal in although the skipper - playing in a more defensive role - was unable to square the ball. At the other end Morgan Turner sent a scuffed his effort spinning out of play.

The Boatmen were clear just before the hour mark. The energetic Jack Smith rampaged forward down the left and played in Jake Hoole whose low ball was met by the man-on-form DAN MASON. The striker allowed the pass to roll in front of him to allow a first time effort that bulged the net and made it four goals in a week and 35 for the season.

A recent published article cited Warren Bentley’s goalscoring exploits at Winchester - playing alongside the Mason’s current team-mate Zach Glasspool - but Dan Mason is now only six goals from matching the top scorer in England’s top eight divisions.

The goal almost killed what was becoming a highly disrupted game - with bookings looking more likely than goals - Byron Masons header and a Jake Hoole strike were the closest the hosts came to adding to their tally.

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Hamworthy’s chances were slim too. Sholing have only conceded 11 league goals at home all season - three of those in an opening day defeat to Moneyfields - so when Kane Daysh become an auxiliary forward it was no surprise to see his solitary effort sail over the bar.

While the Hammers lacked a goal threat, Sholing are putting together a promising force of their own - a defensive one! Birthday boy Dan Miller made up one half of what looks to be a promising defensive duo as the senior player - age just 22. His partner Kieran Winman joined him in helping the Boatmen continue a run with just one league goal conceded at the Silverlake in 2016.

Jack Satterley was lucky to avoid an early bath, after what looked to be a foul on Ryan Gosney. However the Ref deemed the tackle to be fair and the tenacious midfielder walked away without a second caution.

Sholing ended dominantly. Good build up play saw chances open up for Dan Mason and Zach Glasspool giving both opportunities to shoot. Instead, neither did, and Barry Mason hit the ball high over the bar.

Nick Yeomans also tested the ‘keeper. Dan Mason unselfishly squared the ball to his striker partner on the edge of the box, but Banfield allayed any early nerves to get down to the effort comfortably.  FT 2-0

By Ollie Harvey

View from the stands:  Overall, a slightly low-key game that never really came to life.  Not helped by the stop-start nature of it, with the Ref perhaps to blame for that.  We love watching football in the sunshine & dry, although the pitch was a bit parched and bobbly as a result.   Dan Mason's goals were again, expertly taken and currently makes him the leading scorer in the Wessex Premier.  Kieran Winman was the latest nipper to make his debut and looked calm & assured at the back.  With Salisbury certain to be Champions, the race is now for second place and our form is good and our games against Andover & Blackfield could be key, but we can't allow any slip-ups against other teams either.

Next games are away at Moneyfields on Tuesday & Follands Hamble on Thursday
Next home game is on Saturday 9th April v Whitchurch United (3pm)