Bashley1 2Sholing

Scorers :  Will Heather (pen) 18  / Alex Sawyer 45, Pete Castle 45+2

Date : Saturday 20th August 2016 - 3pm - FA Cup Preliminary Round

Bashley: Joe Prodomo [c], Hugh Dathan, Lewis Aimson, Lewis Brailey (Matt Dodd 88), Brad Morris, Chris Lewis (Tom Brown 81), Will Heather, Shane Sheridan, Kabba Jack, Brad Hill.  Subs Not Used: Aaron Dunne, Joe Coombes, Harry Smith, Will Weston, Dan Maher

Yellow Card :

Sholing: Ryan Gosney, Owen Royl, Pete Castle, Owen Roundell, Marvin McClean, Alex Sawyer, Byron Mason [c], Barry Mason (Luke Bergg), Jamie Bulpitt, Dan Mason, Zac Mouland.  Subs Not Used: Marc Diaper, Jordan Brooks, Liam Attrill, Jack Attrill, Sam Jenman, Kristian Cozzolino

Yellow Card : Alex Sawyer, Ryan Gosney

Attendance : 179 (approx 30 Sholing fans)

Man of the Match : Byron Mason

Referee: Jake Topp Assistants: Mark Cottrell & Tom Copping

Sholing will play Havant and Waterlooville in the First Round Qualifying of the FA Cup after they came from behind to beat Bashley in blustery conditions. Goals from Alex Sawyer and Pete Castle towards the end of the first half ensured that the Boatmen’s cup run continued into September, following Will Heather’s 18th minute penalty for the hosts.

The players produced a fantastic reaction to midweek’s bitter defeat, with an excellent defensive display, as well as showing great character after going behind.

Team News: Sholing were still without 7 first team players, so Dave Diaper named six 18 year olds on the bench. Also 16 year old Lewis Eades travelled as cover but was not required with Byron Mason returning to the starting XI passing a pre -match fitness test following two weeks out. Also returning was Alex Sawyer. The team was led out by Mascot and Sholing U13 player Kai Newland.

It was a cagey opening 15 minutes, with both players trying to acclimatise to the playing conditions. The hosts had the first real meaningful attack, which resulted in a rather dubious penalty. Alex Sawyer made, what appeared to be, a good defensive tackle after Kabba Jack was sent through on goal, however, referee Jake Topp viewed differently, and pointed to the spot for a handball against Sawyer earning him a yellow card, much to the bemusement of nearly everyone watching. Will Heather converted the penalty into the right corner, although Ryan Gosney did get a hand on it.

For all their possession, Sholing had to wait until the 28th minute to forge a significant chance. Dan Mason chested the ball down outside the penalty area and set Zac Mouland through on goal, but the striker’s shot was blocked. Barry Mason then found his brother Dan in the box with a cross from the right, but the Boatmen’s top scorer from last season couldn’t produce enough power in the header to trouble the Bashley ‘keeper.

The equaliser finally came on the stroke of the 45th minute. Marv McLean, who was celebrating his 29th birthday, found Jamie Bulpitt 20 yards from goal, and the midfielder set up ALEX SAWYER, who converted the chance, smashing the ball into the bottom right corner.

They say the best time to score is just before half time. So it was must have felt doubly satisfying when PETE CASTLE rose highest to nod in Sawyer’s inswinging corner 90 seconds later to give Sholing a lead at half time. HT 2-1

The second half begun in parallel to the first, with both teams fidgety with the ball against the swirling wind that appeared to have gained even more strength. Bashley once again had the opening chance of the half when Shane Sheridan made room for himself inside the Sholing penalty area, but the striker slashed his shot wide. Up the other end Byron Mason found space inside the box and prodded the ball beyond the keeper, but a defender was there to hacked away.

The Boatmen could only conjure up half chances in the second period, with Barry Mason who had a couple of efforts that went wide of the goal and Zac Mouland had a shot saved by the home stopper. Halfway through the 2nd half captain Byron is felled, on the halfway line, by an elbow blind side to the referee. Ryan Gosney raced to his skippers defence to remonstrate but was shown a yellow card for his concerns. Byron Mason had to leave the field of play for over four minutes to stop the bleeding leaving the Boatmen briefly down to 10 men. Luke Bergg was brought into the fray seven minutes later replacing Barry Mason. Dan Mason’s looping header from the edge of the box was easily collected under the bar by Prodomo in the Bashley goal.

But the second half showed a defensive resolve as Sholing controlled the game, with Castle & Roundell continuing to form a solid partnership and Owen Royl also impressing in his first game at right back. The returning Byron Mason & Alex Sawyer also showed how much they were missed in recent games in the middle of the park.  FT 1-2

Match Report by Liam Richner edited by Greg Dickson

Next Game : Sholing v Lymington Town - Wessex Prem - Friday 26 August 7:45pm

Photos by Keith Legg (click an image to enlarge)