Sholing1 0HambleClub1

Scorers : Lee Wort 36

Date : Thursday 8th February 2018 7:45pm - Southampton Senior Cup Quarter Final

Venue : Universal Stadium

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, TJ Cuthbertson, Marv McLean, Pete Castle, Dan Miller, Jack Smith, Jamie Bulpitt, Byron Mason, Lee Wort, Alex Sawyer, Owen Roundell.  Subs not used : Owen Royl, Dan Mason, Jake Hoole, Jean-Luc Ramdin, Jamie Bray

Yellow Card : Pete Castle

Hamble Club : Rory Anderson, Ben Kemplen, Coby Wilson, Brad Magookin, Mike Byrne, PJ McLean, River Smith (Doug Rowe 70), Charlie Wagstaffe, Nathan Lynch, Jack McCarthy, Nick Watts.  Subs not used : Sam Webb, Ricky Bull, Alex Blake, Danny Cox

Yellow Card : PJ McLean, Charlie Wagstaffe

Attendance : 156

Man of the Match : Byron Mason

Referee : Ross Murphy  Assistants : Paul Hicks & Brian Francis

It was a cold night at the Universal Stadium with a raw wind blowing up the length of the pitch, taking the temperature down to almost zero degrees. Sholing went into this game after not playing for 3 weeks and having won just one of four since the change of year, whilst Hamble Club were looking to bounce back following their Round 5 FA Vase defeat at Windsor last Saturday. Add to that the ingredients of local rivalry and a place of a semi-final up for grabs and the scene was well set for a cracking match.

Well, the teams played a closely contested affair that had precious few direct opportunities on target and was settled by a single first half goal by Lee Wort.

HamSot1

Sholing came out of the blocks well and dominated possession in the opening fifteen minutes. Wort did well to move past two Hamble defenders but their skipper McLean blocked the shot. Cuthbertson got forward on the right for the Boatman but his pull back into the box failed to find a team mate and a promising move broke down. Wort ran at the Hamble defence but Byrne made a tackle, the ball looping towards his own goal but it hit the side netting to concede a corner. Little had been seen of the Monks in advanced positions although Watts got down the left but his ball into the box was easily cleared by the home defence, that was followed by a diving McCarthy header that was comfortably held by Gosney.

Sholing had a great chance to net the game’s opening goal on the half-hour mark as Bulpitt was tackled from behind by Byrne and the ref, in a good position, decided it was unfair and awarded a penalty. Up stepped Wort whose firm straight kick was deflected by keeper Anderson back to the taker, who then failed to convert the rebound by blasting it over the bar from close range. However, LEE WORT did find the target shortly afterwards with an excellent individual goal. Dan Miller's long ball into the right channel saw Wort win the chase with Byrne, he cut past the defender into the heart of the Hamble box and past Anderson who had come off his line, but instead of blasting the ball into the middle of the goal, Wort calmly slotted the ball back in the direction he had come and inside the near post, past a couple of defenders on the line.  HT: 1-0

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Hamble, who had struggled to make an attacking impact in the first half, made a more promising start to the second period now they had the strong wind at their backs. Wilson drove wide after a cross had popped up off a home defender and later McCarthy’s shot was well defended and, from the corner, Watts effort was blocked and then came to Wagstaffe who shot wide. Lee Wort thought he had grabbed a second when he poked the ball past the onrushing Anderson, but the ref said he had fouled PJ McLean in the process.

Sholing had worked hard to oppress the Hamble effort and when McLean got forward to win a corner for the home side on 71 minutes, it was a rare foray into an attacking position at that time. Twice though Hamble got into promising wide positions but the cross lacked quality and was cleared. Time was running out for Hamble but a dangerous Watts cross was clawed away by Gosney whilst Wilson’s effort failed to test the Sholing keeper which proved to be the final attempt. FT: 1-0

The analysis of this one depends on your perspective. In a game of few direct opportunities Hamble would reflect on failing to create them and Sholing on being sound and resolute in defence. To this neutral observer, there was an element of both, but it is the holders that progress into the semi-final where they will face either Team Solent or Blackfield & Langley (who play next Monday).

Match Report by Gary Day

Next Game : Horndean v Sholing - Saturday 3pm - Wessex Premier

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