Sholing3 1Baffins

Scorers : Dan Mason 51 & 80 Lee Wort 34 / Jason Parish 83

Date: Saturday 17th November 2018 - 3pm - Sydenhams Wessex Premier

Venue: Universal Stadium

Sholing: Ryan Gosney, TJ Cuthbertson, Marvin Mclean, Pete Castle, Dan Miller, Jamie Bulpitt, Ryan Mackney (Owen Royl 89), Byron Mason [c], Dan Mason, Lee Wort, Jake Hoole. Unused Subs: Alex Rovelli-Zarelli, Jack Smith, Owen Roundell, Nick O’Donnell

Yellow Cards:

Baffins Milton Rovers: Cameron Scott, Corey Burns (George Root 69), Josh Dean, Owen Whally, Connor Saunders, Tyler Yates, Fadel Seibou (Carel Kayembe 80), Jason Parish (c), Dale Mason (Max Paddon 63), Rob Taw. Unused Subs: Tommy Tierney, George Burgess

Yellow Cards: Connor Saunders

Attendance: 169

Referee: James Welsh  Assistants: Rado Lliev & Alan Finn

Emerald Motors Man of the Match : Dan Mason

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Sholing stretched their winning league run to 13 games by defeating Baffins Milton Rovers. The strike partnership of Dan Mason & Lee Wort took their goalscoring exploits to an incredible 57 goals already this season as the Boatmen march on.

Team News: Brad Targett was suspended and another change had to be made right before kick off when Alex Sawyer pulled up in the warm up, so Ryan Mackney took his place in midfield.

Ahead of kick off, Sydenhams Wessex League Treasurer Paul Scoble presented Sholing club President, Bill Boyle, with the October club of the month award, Sholing's second award of the season.

On a bobbly looking pitch after the recent weather and run of Sholing home games, the game started very quietly with the away side looking dangerous and created some half chances in the first 20 minutes. In the 17th minute Jason Parish connected with a cross from the left to send the ball wide with a hooked attempt as the ball was slightly behind him. On 18 minutes centre back Connor Saunders scythed down Jake Hoole as the Sholing winger beat him for pace down the left and was the first (and only) caution of the day for referee Welsh.

Sholing had chances in the first 20 minutes as well, with Dan Mason having a low shot well saved and an angled drive by Jake Hoole flashed across goal. However, it was Baffins who had the first clear cut chance of the match in the 33rd minute when a long ball was hit upfield. With the lowering sun making it difficult, the bounce of the ball was misjudged by the Sholing backline and the ball was played out wide to the left to the winger Rob Taw. His cross went over Ryan Gosney and the header from Parish went wide, with an open goal gaping.

This scare seemed to shock Sholing into life, as they took the lead just a minute later. Marv McLean roasted the full back and his cross from the left found Dan Mason in the penalty area, his shot was blocked at close range by the away defence, but the block rebounded and fell to LEE WORT to fire home with an accurate half-volley into the corner from 10 yards. Five minutes later Sholing could have doubled their lead through a corner, when Dan Miller rose above the defenders, however his goal bound header was headed off the line and cleared.

On the stroke of half time some fantastic Sholing one touch passing on the left side led to space for Jake Hoole, whose powerful shot was saved at the near post by Cameron Scott. As the half time whistle blew, Sholing had the lead but arguably Baffins Milton Rovers were still posing issues particularly through Fadel Seibou and Jason Parish. HT: 1-0

With the sun setting behind the trees and the floodlights kicking in, the second half kicked off with Sholing quickly regaining their dominance from the closing stages of the first. Dan Mason had a shot fly harmlessly high and wide in the 47th minute, but he got his reward just four minutes later with an arguably lucky goal to double the Boatmen’s lead. Cameron Scott attempted to clear the ball away from an overhit through ball, but only succeeded in hitting it against the side of the face of DAN MASON. The ball then floated back over the keeper’s head and seemed to take an age to bounce into the net to make it 2-0. Not one of the striker's most memorable goals, but they all count!

After Dan Mason was denied in the 57th minute by a good diving save, the game seemed to settle into a lull, but bounced into life again in the 78th minute when good play from Baffins Milton Rovers set Fadel Seibou away down the left and crossed the ball into Jason Parish, who shot wide when well placed.

Sholing made sure of win number 13 on 80 mins with a classy goal. Marvin Mclean teased the right back and then beat him before slipping a reverse pass into the area for Ryan Mackney.  He took a touch to stop the ball going out of play then showed good awareness to cut it back to DAN MASON, who did what D-Dan does so often, spin with his back to goal, make space out of nothing and get away a powerful shot that gave the keeper no chance as it thudded into the net.  Goal number 30 for Dan.  A minute later Jake Hoole was denied Sholing’s fourth goal when after a one touch build up, his lob was saved by Cameron Scott. Two minutes later the away side had a consolation goal through Jason Parish, who collected the ball in an attacking position and carried on running at the Sholing defence, checked in and placed an angled shot that beat Ryan Gosney at his near post for a well taken goal.

In the 89th minute Owen Royl came off the bench to make his 100th appearance for the Boatmen replacing Ryan Mackney and got a large cheer from the Ultras for this achievement. FT: 3-1

Dave Diaper commented after the game :Well that was some game today. I must say that we had to be at our best to get the 3 points and give credit to Baffins who were a very decent side who impressed me with their discipline and work ethic. There are fine margins in football and the game could have been different if they took their chances, but that said, I must applaud my players especially in the second half who worked hard to stay on top and deservedly get the three points. Thanks to our supporters today for coming along it added atmosphere to the game and I hope you were entertained and come back next Saturday when we meet Horndean, but next up is an away game at the Royal Navy on Tuesday in the Hampshire Cup, another big test”.

Report by Connor Steel

Next Game :  Royal Navy v Sholing - Tuesday 20th November 7:45pm - Hampshire Cup 3rd Round (Burnaby Road)
Next Home Game : Sholing v Horndean - Saturday 24th Nover 3pm - Wessex Premier

Photos by Ray Routledge (click an image to enlarge)