Andover0 1Sholing

Scorers :  Jake Hoole 16

Date : Tuesday 2nd August 2016 - 7:45pm - Sydenhams Wessex League Premier

Andover Town : Jamie Bray, Joe Woodward, Joe Wright, Liam Gilbert [c], Luke Dempsey, Ross Gregory, Danny Urry, Chris Onoufriou, Michael Dixon, Cassios Newton, Adam Grange.  Subs : Conor Whiteley, Ben Simpson, Craig Blakeman, Craig Stanley, Michael Horne

Yellow Card : Luke Dempsey

Sholing : Sholing Team: Ryan Gosney, Alex Sawyer, Marvin McLean, Pete Castle, Owen Roundell, Jack Smith, Barry Mason (Keiran Winman) Byron Mason [c], Dan Mason, Zac Mouland (Nick Yeomans), Jake Hoole.  Subs Not Used : Kevin Brewster, Owen Royl, Jordan Brooks

Yellow Card : Byron Mason

Attendance : 111 (Approx 30 Sholing fans)

Man of the Match : Byron Mason

Referee : Gareth Bridge  Assistants: Michael Ridge & Christopher Gunnell

Sholing got off to a winning start, beating Andover Town 1-0 at the Portway Stadium. Jake Hoole scored the only goal for the Boatmen, in what was a positive performance to kick off the season.

Team News : Sholing were without Zach Glasspool and Dan Miller through injury, with the latter failing a late fitness test, whilst Jamie Bulpitt was away on holiday.

The Boatmen settled in quicker than their opponents and nearly took the lead within fifteen seconds. A quick throw from Barry Mason found brother Dan and his smart turn and shot was saved smartly by Andover goalkeeper Jamie Bray. Just over a minute later the Masons linked up again, with Barry this time firing over from distance following a knockdown from his younger brother.

Sholing finally made their dominance count and took the lead after 16 minutes. JAKE HOOLE was having success cutting in from the left flank and he created space on the edge of the area as the home defence backed off, allowing him to calmly hit a low left foot shot beyond the keeper and inside the near post.

We then nearly doubled our lead a minute later when captain Byron Mason turned and shot, but his effort was straight at the ‘keeper.

The home team slowly began to grow into the game to create a few chances, with left winger Adam Grange particularly dangerous, and he had a penalty shout turned down following a challenge by Alex Sawyer. Not soon after he had the best of Sawyer again, firing a right footed effort towards goal that was deflected off of a Sholing head for a corner.

The home side’s best chance of the game came in the 34th minute, as an in-swinging corner wasn’t dealt with by the Sholing defence, and cannoned back off the far post.

As half time approached, debutant Zac Mouland, signed from Lymington, latched onto a long ball and attempted the lob over a onrushing Andover ‘keeper, but his effort was just too high. HT 0-1

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The second half was a much quieter affair and Sholing weren’t troubled too much defensively. We had a chance on 56 minutes when goal scorer Hoole picked up the loose ball and fizzed an effort just over the crossbar.

More good link up play from the Mason brothers, saw Barry play a one-two with Dan before firing a shot with the outside of his boot past the far post.

The only thing that Andover could conjure up were long range efforts, which mostly sailed well wide or over the bar.  The only moment of concern for Ryan Gosney was when he went up to catch a high ball into the area and it squirmed out of his hands as he was challenged.  No freekick was given, but thankfully the ball dropped away from any Andover player and Gos calmly picked it up.

Both sets of players were starting to look leggy, not surprisingly for a first game of the season on a pitch made more lush by the overnight rain.  There were several miss-timed challenges as a result, but thankfully the ref was sensible with his cautions. The Boatmen were comfortably able to see out the 90 minutes to claim our first 3 points of the season. FT 0-1

Match Report by Macaulay Daley, Edited by Liam Richner.

View from the Stands : Great to get off to a winning start against a team, that in all likelyhood, will be at least in the top 5 or 6 this season.  We played our best stuff in the opening 20 minutes, knocking it around with pace & precision, whilst Byron & Jack dominated the middle.  More about defending in the second half, but Pete & Owen were strong at the back, ably helped by Alex & Marv.  A positive start all round!  Thanks to the many Sholing fans for traveling up to back the lads.

Next Game : Sholing v Bournemouth Poppies, FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round, FRIDAY 7:45pm. 

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