Scorers : Jack Mitchell 83 / Owen Roundell 52
Date : Saturday 25 November 2017 3pm - Sydenhams Wessex Premier
Venue : Cockrams
Shaftesbury : ?
Yellow Card :
Sholing : Jamie Bray, TJ Cuthbertson, Owen Royl, Owen Roundell, Dan Miller, Kevin Brewster, Alex Sawyer, Byron Mason, Dan Mason (Rory Wood 77), Lee Wort (Barry Mason 81), Marv Mclean. Subs not used : Pete Castle & Jack Smith
Yellow Card : TJ Cuthbertson
Attendance : 70
Man of the Match : Alex Sawyer
Referee : Connor Gates Assistants : Mark Rogers & Daniel Burke
Boatmen had to make do with a point after a late wonder-goal saw Shaftesbury score with their first shot on target of the match. Owen Roundell had put us in front, but missed chances allowed the home side to remain in the game and Mitchell's 30 yard effort earned a draw.
Team News: Jamie Bulpitt was suspended and Ryan Gosney unavailable. Jamie Bray went in goal and Brewy & Sawyer joined Byron in midfield, with Royl at left back and Marv pushed forward on the wing.
Sholing's first ever visit to Shaftesbury in the League and the long drive into North Dorset saw us arrive at a nicely laid out new-ish ground. The "Rockies" had been moved to make way for a new Tesco store some years back and the supermarket paid for their redevelopment, which includes a very nice clubhouse.
On a chilly afternoon with a blinding low sun setting behind the main stand, both teams struggled to keep hold of the ball in the opening period of the game on a bobbly pitch. First attempt on goal came from Sholing when Byron met a Brewy corner, but his header was kicked off the line. Dan Mason spun his marker to open up space for a shot, but it soared over the bar.
Shaftesbury had their best chance of the half on 28 minutes when a header from a corner went narrowly wide, but all in all, it was a disappointing first 45 with not much to warm the spectators. HT 0-0
Sholing looked dangerous from Brewster's set pieces and on 52 minutes we took the lead from a right wing corner. Brewy's delivery led to a scramble in the 6 yard box, but OWEN ROUNDELL was on hand to scoop the ball up into the far corner for his 11th goal for the club.
Boatmen were on top and Lee Wort was put clear, but as he shot, the ball seemed to take a wicked bobble and he shanked his effort wide. Worty had another chance soon after, when Dan Mason showed good awareness to flick the ball into his path, but this time the keeper saved well. Game was niggly in places, with the officials missing a few off the ball incidents, with Marv on the receiving end of a petulant kick. The home side were not bothering the Boatmen defence, but Sholing couldn't get a killer second goal, coming closest when Dan Miller headed just over from a corner.
On 83 minutes, out of nothing, Shaftesbury got their equaliser when the ball sat up nicely for Jack Mitchell, 30 yards out and he connected perfectly on the full to send a dipping volley screaming into the net, giving Bray no chance. Was an excellent goal. Sholing laid seige to the home side's penalty box for the remainder of the game, with 5 corners in succession. The home keeper had to punch a couple of inswingers clear from underneath his crossbar, and Shaftesbury were throwing bodies in the way of every shot to ensure they grabbed a point. FT 1-1
Dave Diaper couldn't hide his frustration after the game : "Very disappointed to leave Shaftesbury with just one point. Again, it's two points dropped against another mid-table side. We must improve and quickly. Chances created to win by at least 2 or 3 goals and they’ve had just one shot on goal (great strike though), but the fact he had enough time to pick his spot says it all"
Next Game : Sholing v Blackfield & Langley - FA Vase 3rd Round - Saturday 2 Dec 3pm
