Scorers : Ryan McKechnie 82 (pen), Lewis Clarke 84  /  Dan Mason 4

Date : Saturday 23rd September 2017 - 3pm - Sydenhams Wessex Premier

Venue : Weyline Stadium

Portland United : Sean Lillington, Ash Smith, Charlie Holland, Shaun Bessant, Sam Buckler, Ross Doidge [c], Billy Mitchell, Ryan McKechnie, Lewis Clarke, Alex Godfrey, Alex Halloran.  Subs : Adam Diaz, Dan Payne, Lewis Wyhton & Taylor Hibbs

Yellow Card : Shaun Bessant & Lewis Clarke

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, Jean-Luc Ramdin, Jack Smith, TJ Cuthbertson, Owen Roundell, Kev Brewster (Byron Mason 62), Barry Mason [c] (Bradey Norton 81), Alex Sawyer, Dan Mason, Lee Wort, Jamie Bulpitt.  Subs not used : Zac Mouland, Pete Castle & Jamie Bray

Yellow Card :  TJ Cuthbertson & Jean-Luc Ramdin

Attendance : 107 (approx 20 Sholing fans)

Man of the Match : Barry Mason

Referee : John Foster  Assistants : Mark Rogers & Ray Cody

Sholing were left kicking themselves for dominating the game and missing a host of chances as Portland staged a late smash & grab to take all three points. 

Team News : Jean-Luc Ramdin came in as right back, with TJ partnering Roundell in the middle and Jack Smith on the left. Dan Miller was nursing a calf injury and Byron was on the bench, still not 100%.  Kev Brewster started in midfield. Marv & Hubbard were unavailable.

Warm sunshine beat down on a pristine looking pitch as Sholing almost scored straight from the kick-off. Dan Mason got away from his marker to bear down on goal, but as the keeper came out, he slid his shot just wide of the upright.  He didn't have to wait long to get another chance as the Boatmen went into the lead on 4 minutes. A corner was fed back to Brewy who hit a low cross to the near post where DAN MASON forced the ball past the keeper.

Sholing went hunting for a second and Barry Mason broke down the right wing and crossed on the run to find Lee Wort in the box, who spun and shot, but the keeper saved well with his legs.   Was Jamie Bulpitt's turn to have a shot on the turn, but he it just over the bar.  It was all Sholing, as wave after wave of high tempo attacks were pulling the Portland defence all over the shop.  Lee Wort was again denied by a good save, before Jean-Luc Ramdin cut in from the flank past two defenders, but his rising shot, flashed over the crossbar.  Kev Brewster lined up a 22 yard freekick, but curled his effort just over.

On 32 minutes, there was some great football all round, as Ryan Gosney gathered a cross and quickly cleared downfield for Dan Mason to run onto and smash a 25 yard volley on the run, that forced a brilliant one handed save by Lillington.  Boatmen should have been out of sight already and another chance went begging when Jean-Luc put it on a plate to Jamie Bulpitt, free in the middle of the box, but he put his first time effort wide. It was as one sided a half as you are likely to see and Portland went in at half time, probably thankful they were still in the game. HT 0-1

The second half started at a slower tempo, with Portland no longer playing with a high line.  The home side also started to offer something in attack and TJ did well to block a close range shot on 56 mins.  Sholing still had the upper hand and playing the better football, with Dan Mason going close as he broke into the box from the right wing.  On the other side, Lee Wort cut in from flank and his shot towards the far post was well saved.

Lee Wort appeared to get a hefty push in the back at a corner, but the referee denied any appeals. Sholing were getting into good positions, especially on the right, but several times the final ball was too high or deep for players in the middle.

The game entered the final 8 minutes and out of nothing, Portland were awarded a penalty when a cross from the right was adjudged to have hit Jean-Luc's arm. Ryan McKechnie sent Gosney the wrong way from the spot to bury his effort in the corner.  Incredibly, with their next attack, Portland went in front.  A ball into the feet of Lewis Clarke near the penalty spot, saw him twist and shoot into the far corner to the disbelief of every Sholing player and supporter.   The events of a mad two minutes shook Sholing, but we had a chance to equalise when Jean-Luc was played into the penalty area, but on the angle, he blazed over.

Sholing came away with nothing from a game where they had played so well.  Such is the cruel nature of football at times.  FT 2-1

After the game Dave Diaper said : "Absolutely gutted, but you can't win games if you miss the amount of chances we did. On the plus side, a good team performance where we showed a good work ethic and some great passing and movement. On another day, we could have come away with a 6-1 win. However, give Portland credit for capitalising on some poor defending. We move on"

Next Game : Petersfield Town v Sholing - Tuesday 26 Sept 7:45pm - Wessex Prem
Next Home Game : Sholing v Lymington Town - Saturday 30 Sept 7:45pm - Wessex Prem