Sholing3 2Verwood

Scorers : Jamie Bulpitt 11, Dan Mason 65 (pen), Marv McLean 78  /  Bradley Goddard 44, James Guthrie 73

Date : Wednesday 20th April 2016 - 7:45pm - Sydenhams Wessex Premier

Sholing : Ryan Gosney; Kev Brewster, Dean Faithfull, Dan Miller, Marvin McLean; Barry Mason, Byron Mason [c], Jamie Bulpitt (Joel Drew 88), Alex Sawyer (Kieran Winman 78); Dan Mason (Nick Yeomans74), Zach Glasspool. Subs not used: Liam Attrill, Jordan Brooks

Yellow Card :  Zach Glasspool, Kev Brewster

Verwood Town : Chris Lynch; Dean Evans, Zac Phelps, Liam Donachie, James Murray; Russell Dyer (Ollie Davies 65) Bradley Goddard (Sam Gletzel 65) Charlie Gajic [c], James Guthrie, Joe Wood, Flynn Begley (Tom Begley 60). Subs not used: Brandon Langton

Yellow Card : Zac Phelps, Sam Gletzel

Attendance : 95

Man of the Match : Jamie Bulpitt  /  Sponsors Man of the Match: Barry Mason

Referee : Colman O'Meara  Assistants: Harry Redman & Mike Misselbrook

Marv McLean’s late long range effort ensured Sholing took their fourth narrow victory in a row to stay in the race for second place in the Sydenhams Wessex League Premier as they beat mid-table Verwood Town. The Boatmen led had twice through Jamie Bulpitt’s header and Dan Mason’s penalty but were twice pegged back by a determined Verwood side.

Team News : Jamie Bulpitt & Kevin Brewster came back into the starting line-up at the expense of Jake Hoole & Jack Smith.  The average age of players on the bench was just 18.

As the sun dropped, so did the temperature, dramatically! It was the visitors who created the first opening as Verwood striker Joe Wood headed a good chance straight at Ryan Gosney from a central position four yards out.

Sholing’s first attack saw them take the lead on 11 minutes when Dan and Barry Mason combined to set up Zach Glasspool, who had his initial shot saved only for JAMIE BULPITT to head in a looping rebound.

Verwood weren’t deterred and five minutes later Bradley Goddard saw a long range shot deflected for a corner, which came to nothing. On half an hour Glasspool headed just wide from six yards, as he failed to make a clean contact after Barry Mason was able to work space for a cross. Glasspool was then arguably unfortunate not to get a penalty as he was tripped in the area and instead had a free kick given against him, although he wasn’t booked.

Verwood equalised just a minute before half time through the dangerous Bradley Goddard. After some good passing football, James Guthrie drove inside on the left and laid it off to Goddard 20 yards out, and the midfielder hit a screamer into the left corner past the despairing Gosney. HT 1-1

Sholing could have scored with the first attack of the second half when Barry Mason played his brother Byron in,  clean through, but the Sholing captain was denied by a superb last ditch tackle.

Verwood then went straight up the other end and had a good chance to take the lead, when Joe Wood elected to shoot from a narrow angle with teammates better placed. The game began to get stretched as Byron Mason had another chance, chesting the ball down before volleying just wide from the edge of the area.

On 65 minutes, Sholing were awarded a penalty as Jamie Bulpitt was fouled by Zac Phelps in the away defence, with DAN MASON stepping up to coolly slot home the resulting spot kick for goal number 37 of the season.

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The lead only lasted ten minutes as a Verwood punt forward was allowed to bounce by the home defence, and with the back line and the keeper equally stopping to look at each other, James Guthrie was able to amble forward and tap it nonchalantly past Gosney.

The game swung back in Sholing's favour through MARV MCLEAN'S expertly taken goal. With Kieran Winman coming on and going into defence, it allowed Marv to go forward in what felt like, his first time since taking up as "emergency" left back role some 12 games ago. A Nick Yeomans cross was rescued by Jamie Bulpitt, who held it up for McLean to cut inside onto his right foot and unleash a powerful shot from 20 yards that arrowed into the bottom corner.

Sholing were able to see the game out comfortably as Verwood failed to rally late on, and more than held on for a result that sees them go three points behind Andover Town with the two facing each other on Saturday. FT 3-2

Photos by Ray Routledge (click an image to enlarge)