Sholing1 0Follands

Scorers : Zach Glasspool 35

Date : Saturday 16th April 2016 - 3pm - Sydenhams Wessex Premier

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, Alex Sawyer (Kevin Brewster 78), Marv McLean, Dean Faithfull, Dan Miller, Jack Smith, Barry Mason, Byron Mason [c], Dan Mason (Jamie Bulpitt 65), Zach Glasspool, Jake Hoole (Lee Wort 53). Subs not used: Nick Yeomans, Kieran Winman

Yellow Card :  Marv McLean

Folland Sports : Jared Hixon [c], Danny Longman, Tony Wilkinson, Liam Golding, Owen Bush, Jorge Cervello, Josh Oxlade (Harry Osman 66), Fransisco Santafe-Vivo, Cain Prentice, Elliott Richards (Joel Ghosh), Matt Andrews. Subs not used: Dan Wilkin

Yellow Card : Harry Osman

Attendance : 138

Man of the Match : Dean Faithfull

Referee : Mark Shapland  Assistants: Huw Evans & Mike Misselbrook

Zach Glasspool's first goal for Sholing was enough to claim all the points in a disappointing game. With Dave Diaper on hols, Stu Hussey took charge and his side came up against a side clearly fighting for their lives, but Glasspool’s header proved decisive and it was business as usual with another win and another clean sheet at home.

Despite the chilly conditions, there was a party atmosphere, with free entry for Sholing Youth & Ladies players and merchandise give-aways to mark the occasion - however the game turned out to be less of a fiesta and more of a siesta.

Team News: Gosney returned in goal and in a 4-4-2, Glasspool was pushed more up front with Dan Mason.  A surprise was the return of Lee Wort to the bench, after it was previously thought he was out for the season with a knee problem.

In a match in which both defences gave very little away, Dan Miller was the first to make his mark, perfectly timing his sliding challenge and setting the tone for the game. Gosney’s spilled catch almost fell for Elliott Richards to prod home - but the goalkeeper was able to recover.

Barry Mason had a promising start to the tie but when given an opportune free kick he fired wildly over the bar. When Matt Andrew played Richards through Dean Faithfull came in with a clumsy looking challenge. However the referee judged it to be fair and the Platemakers appeals for a penalty were waved away.

As Dan Mason looked to add to his tally for the season, his volley from a well controlled ball on the chest rolled across goal and Zach Glasspool took over free kick duties but saw his tame attempt gathered by Jared Hixon.

The closest either side came to breaking the deadlock was from Fransisco Santafe-Vivo - with an effort almost as impressive as him name. The midfielder collected the ball and sent a thunderous 35 yard effort looping over Gosney. However, the ‘keeper was just able to acrobatically claw the ball over his crossbar.

Matt Andrew also came close. His quick feet allowed him to expertly turn away from Dan Miller although his fired wide. Moments later Dan Mason repeated the trick, pivoting gracefully around Owen Bush but then dragging his near post shot into the side netting.

On 35 mins, Barry Mason managed to drive up the touchline and clip the ball into the area. ZACH GLASSPOOL was on hand to leap and skillfully nod into the bottom corner, his first goal for the Boatmen. HT 1-0

Dan Mason was the second player who could have appealed for a penalty, but after clearly having his shirt pulled he played on with no advantage. Byron Mason also came close - heading an Alex Sawyer corner goal bound but seeing it gathered by HIxon.

However Follands looked more threatening and almost equalised. Ryan Gosney came to punch at a cross but after missing the ball, it was followed in although the play was called back for a foul and Sholing were spared.

The introduction of Lee Wort liven up proceedings on the left hand side, with the forward immediately dancing into space. His lay off to Barry was sent well over - as joined shots by Richards and Andrews in flying out of the ground.

Man of the match, Dean Faithfull, once again summed up the importance of the defences in this game with a exquisite tackle to deny Prentice. On the one occasion that Richard did find space his overhead kick looped onto the roof of the net. Andrews then had the ball in the net for the second time, smashing home for six yards, only for it to ruled out for offside.

With the final action of a half bereft of it, Tony Wilkinson found space in the final seconds, but his fierce effort was well parried by Gosney.  FT 1-0

Photos by Ray Routledge (click an image to enlarge)

Sholing v Follands from Jack Prentice on Vimeo.