Sholing1 0Bashley

Scorers : Owen Royl 65

Date : Saturday 13 January 2018 - 3pm - Sydenhams Wessex Premier

Venue : Universal Stadium

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, Owen Roundell, Jack Smith (Owen Royl, 53), Pete Castle, Dan Miller, Alex Sawyer (Kevin Brewster, 87), Marlon Mason, Byron Mason (C), Dan Mason (Rory Wood, 92), Lee Wort, Jamie Bulpitt. Unused Subs: Duncan Brown and Frazer McLean

Yellow Card : 

Bashley : Michael Edgar, Harry McGrath, Lewis Aimson, Brad Strickland (Sean Wright 45), Dan Thompson, Brad Morris (C), Sam Jackson, Harrison White (Connor Whiteley 66), Kabba Jack, Lewis Ross, Dan Munday. Unused Subs: Tony Rolls and Joe Coombes

Yellow Card : 

Attendance : 99

Man of the Match : Ryan Gosney

Referee : Tom Berry  Assistants : Brian Francis & Paul Hicks

A well-taken 65th minute half-volley from substitute Owen Royl gave Sholing their first win and goal of 2018 in a hard fought game at the Universal Stadium.

Team News: Captain Byron Mason returned following his 3 match suspension Jack Smith recovered from his illness that kept him out of the Fareham and replaced Kevin Brewster. Pete Castle recovered from his midweek knock. Missing today’s game, TJ Cuthbertson & Jean-Luc Ramdin both returning to England from holiday. Marvin McLean also sat out his last suspended game. Jake Hoole was also unavailable and Bradey Norton has now left the club to undertake a year long visit to Australia (All the best to him).

After an even first 10 minutes Bashley began to dominate the first half in terms of chances, and shot wide on 10 minutes this was followed up with a low curling shot saved by Ryan Gosney in the 13th minute before the rebound was fired wide. Another chance came for Bashley when Kabba Jack fired over the bar with the goal gaping after a good cross by Sam Jackson in the 34th minute.

Aside from these clear-cut chances, other shots were either straight at Ryan Gosney or off-target from the Bashley attackers. This included a free kick in the 26th minute that flew just wide by Lewis Ross.

In contrast Sholing had good possession in positive areas of the pitch, but sadly the final ball was often lacking as the half wore on. Their best chances of the first half were both from Dan Mason, who had an angled shot blocked in the 21st minute and shot wide from a half volley in the 32nd minute. The first half ended with the score level. HT 0-0

Bashley made a change at the start bringing on Sean Wright for Brad Strickland. The second half was started with a much-improved Sholing attacking the Bashley goal, with a half-blocked shot being saved by Bashley goalkeeper Michael Edgar in the 48th minute. Other half chances followed for Sholing but were either saved or just wide of the posts.

In the 53rd minute OWEN ROYL came on for Jack Smith and scored the Boatmen’s first goal of the New Year in the 65th minute with a fantastic half-volley. The cross was played into the box by Lee Wort and bounced through to Owen Royl, who fired first time across the goalkeeper and into the far bottom corner to cue some well received cheers from the Sholing fans.

The remaining 25 minutes were mostly played in the Sholing half as they tried to defend their narrow lead. Despite having most of the possession Bashley didn’t create much except for a snap shot that was well saved by Ryan Gosney, having come through the legs of several players. Other Bashley half chances were saved comfortably from the Sholing goalkeeper or were blocked at source from a good defensive rearguard in the closing stages. FT 1-0

Dave Diaper said after the game : "We came into the match on back of one of our worst performances of the season at Fareham. So, it’s been a tricky couple of weeks for the Club having also lost at Hamworthy and our confidence had been knocked. With key players missing in both defeats we welcomed back Byron and Jack and we edged the game 1-0. I thought the Senior players were excellent in the way they led by example and got in the faces of the Bashley players and it was a vast improvement from Tuesday."

"We all know that we are still below par and it’s baby steps but I think I should also mention just how well Bashley played they kept the ball and their movement caused us problems and on another day with better finishing could have put the game to bed before half time very similar to our game away to Portland earlier in the season where we went 1-0 up and ended up losing 2-1."

"We all appreciate the fans support and in particular the ”Ultras” who are an inspiration to the players and we will need that support in abundance when we face our local neighbours Hamble Club on Tuesday night. I am also pleased to say we welcome back TJ, Marv and Jean-Luc back into the squad. Up the Boatmen."

Report by Connor Steel

Next Game : Sholing v Hamble Club - Tuesday 16 Jan 7:45pm - Southampton Senior Cup Quarter Final

Photos courtesy of Ray Routledge (click an image to enlarge)