Scorers :  Dan Miller 42, Lee Wort 79

Date : Saturday 9 September 2017 - 3:00pm - Sydenhams Wessex Premier

Venue : Universal Stadium

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, TJ Cuthbertson, Marv McLean, Owen Roundell, Dan Miller, Micky Hubbard (Owen Royl 80), Barry Mason (Zac Mouland 86), Byron Mason [c], Dan Mason, Bradey Norton (Lee Wort 62), Jamie Bulpitt.  Subs not used : Jack Smith & Connor Kelly

Yellow Card : Dan Mason & Byron Mason

Alresford Town : Dan Kempson [c], Ben Clarke, Brad Benson (Sam Burt 45), Simon Everett, Lukas McCartney, Sam Doswell, Aaron Blaxall, Scott Munro (Chris Morris 73), Dave Parry (Matt Andrews), John Cole, Sam Hall.  Subs not used : James Hawkings & Mike Weatherall

Yellow Card : Brad Benson & Aaron Blaxall

Attendance : 114

Man of the Match : Dan Miller

Referee : Stephen Hawkes   Assistants : Peter Grey & Des McCulloch

Sholing got back to winning ways with an excellent all round team performance to defeat Alresford and gain some revenge for the Cup defeat at the start of the season.  Dan Miller scored just before half time and substitute Lee Wort made sure of the 3 points with a goal on his 350th club appearance.

Team News : Sholing were back to full strength, although Lee Wort was on the bench after coming back from holiday the day before.

Sholing looked the sharper as the game got going and almost took the lead on 8 minutes when Byron's header from a corner was headed off the line with the follow-up shot by TJ also being hacked clear of the goal line.  Boatmen were moving the ball around at pace and Barry Mason slid a nice pass into Jamie Bulpitt to run onto, but his left foot shot was straight at the keeper.

The visitors were playing with a high line and Dan Mason looked to have broken it to run clear, but a late flag saw the normally calm D-Dan upset with the decision and he got a yellow card for kicking the ball away. Bradey Norton was doing well coming in from the left and he firstly set up Barry for a shot that was well blocked and then Norton tried his luck after cutting past two defenders, but his shot across goal went narrowly wide. 

Alresford were not troubling the Sholing defence and as the game approached half time, the Boatmen got the goal to reward their dominance.  A left side corner by Hubbard evaded first Norton and then Byron in the 6 yard box, but spun into the path of DAN MILLER at the far post to prod over the line.  HT 1-0

Second half started with a harsh looking booking for Byron for a routine tackle in the centre circle. On 48 mins, Barry Mason hit a defence splitting pass to TJ breaking forward, as the keeper narrowed the angle, the right back attempted to chip him, but couldn't get the height on his effort to clear Kempson.

Alresford had loud appeals for a penalty turned down by the referee as their player took a theatrical tumble in the box as Dan Miller made a clearance.  Dan was causing problems for Alresford everytime he went forward and on two occasions he headed goalwards from corners, one saved by the keeper and the other inches over the bar.

Ryan Gosney was finally tested on 64 mins when a low side footed shot that was heading into the bottom corner, was pushed round the post at full stretch by Gos.  As the game entered the final 15 minutes, Sholing went looking for the killer second goal and went desperately close with two efforts in a minute.  Firstly, Lee Wort, who had just come on, hit a fierce shot from 18 yards that the keeper beat up into the air and as it landed, it spun back towards goal, but just past the upright.  Then, from the corner, Barry Mason did well to get to the byline and cut the ball back to Dan Miller who connected with a half volley that smashed against the bar.

On 79 minutes, Sholing made the game safe.  LEE WORT was put clear and he raced in on goal, going past the keeper, but with a defender about to make a challenge, he checked back onto his right foot and smashed into the net from 16 yards.  TJ had to head an Alresford effort off the line, but Sholing were able to comfortably see out the final 10 minutes and could have added to their total with Lee Wort going close twice.  A deserved win and a good performance, with every player putting in a shift. FT 2-0

Next Game : Totton & Eling v Sholing - Tuesday 12 September 7:45pm - Soton Senior Cup
Next Home Game : Sholing v Brockenhurst - Saturday 16 September 3pm - Wessex Prem

Photos courtesy of Ray Routledge