Sholing6 2Pagham

Scorers : Dan Mason 5, 35, Alex Sawyer 22, Byron Mason 45+1, Dan Miller 53, Brad Targett 86 / Callum Overton 52, George Gaskin 92

Date: Saturday 1st December 2018 - 3pm - The Buildbase FA Vase Third Round

Venue: Universal Stadium

Sholing: Ryan Gosney, TJ Cuthbertson, Marv Mclean, Pete Castle, Dan Miller, Jamie Bulpitt, Alex Sawyer (Jack Smith 72), Bryon Mason [c], Dan Mason, Lee Wort (Brad Targett 70), Jake Hoole. Unused Subs: Kevin Brewster, Owen Royl & Owen Roundell

Yellow Cards:

Pagham: James Binfield, Charlie Williamson (Matt Hambleton 80), Harry Hendrick, Joe Ashmore, Daryl Wollers, Jamie Horncastle [c], Lloyd Rowlatt, Andy Chick, Howard Neighbour, Callum Overton, George Gaskin. Unused Subs: Charlie Selby, Harry Prisk, Alfie Davidson & Shay Wiggins

Yellow Cards: Howard Neighbour

Attendance: 144

Referee: Alistair Higgs  Assistants: Shawn Barclay & David Payne

Sholing roared past Pagham and into the Fourth round of the Buildbase FA Vase with a brilliant performance where they ripped the "Lions" to shreds at times.  The Boatmen were even more impressive than in the previous round demolition of Malmesbury, considering today they faced stronger opposition, who had only lost once in their league this season.

After the game in mid-week was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch and more heavy rain over the last couple of days, it would have been no surprise if this game had not gone ahead. The fact the pitch didn't require an inspection is testament to the hard work put in by Trevor Diaper and his helpers. And the game itself did not disappoint.

Team News: Alex Sawyer returned from injury and Dan Mason lined up for his 350th appearance. Dave Diaper was able to name his strongest squad.

Sholing came firing out of the blocks and after a spell of quick possession, they took the lead in the 5th minute. A pass by TJ Cuthbertson found DAN MASON surging into the box, who controlled the ball after a couple of bounces in the area and at an angle, his effort beat James Binfield via a deflection.

Two minutes later Lee Wort sped past his marker and cut inside to hit a low shot towards the bottom corner, but a Pagham defender cleared off the line with a sliding block. Then in the 11th minute fantastic one-touch passing between Dan Mason and Lee Wort worked space for an angled shot by the latter that was saved by the shins of the away goalkeeper. From the resulting corner a volleyed effort by TJ was blocked by the head of a defender, before the ball was played back into the box and a header by Bryon Mason was parried safely away by the goalkeeper.

After a dominant first twenty minutes where the pace, power & movement of the Boatmen had Pagham scrambling, you could sense a second Sholing goal was coming and nobody could argue it wasn’t deserved. It came in the 22nd minute when a low shot by Jake Hoole was blocked at source by a Pagham defender with the ball rebounding quickly to ALEX SAWYER eight yards out and he reacted fast to prod the ball into the corner.

Once Sholing doubled their lead Pagham had a brief spell of possession that led to a cross from the left was claimed easily by Gosney. Such was the Boatmen’s dominance, this was the first and only time the away side found themselves in a good position during the first half. On the counter attack the home side had two half chances from Jake Hoole, whose run across the area ended with a shot that went just wide with the keeper beaten and minutes later he had a shot cleared near the line.

In the thirty-fifth minute it was 3-0 to the Boatmen. A low angled shot by Lee Wort took a deflection and seemed to be nestling into the bottom corner. However, Binfield changed direction to make a superb save diving to his right, but he parried the ball straight out to DAN MASON, who swept home the rebound. In his 350 appearances for the Boatmen, "D-Dan" now has 168 goals for the club.

It looked like that was it for the half, but on the stroke of the whistle Sholing made it 4-0. Sustained possession on the right following a corner led to TJ Cuthbertson playing a cross that landed perfectly on the head of skipper BYRON MASON, who made no mistake with a firm downward header past the keeper. It rounded off a brilliant first half performance for the home side, who deserved the lead and it could have been more. HT: 4-0

The second half started with Sholing having a goal ruled out for offside as Lee Wort brought a cross down by TJ Cuthbertson and finished empathically, but the Assistant referee's flag was raised. Moments later, the away side had a shot flash just wide of the post, but this did not deter them, and they got a goal back in the 52nd minute. A mixture of sloppy defending and good play down the right from Pagham opened a huge space for Lloyd Rowlatt. He found Pagham’s leading goalscorer Callum Overton with a low cross and the striker slotted past a stranded Ryan Gosney.

Any slim Pagham hopes of a comeback were quickly ended when from the kick-off Sholing breezed forward and won themselves a corner. A great delivery by Alex Sawyer found DAN MILLER who towered over everyone at the far post to head home.

In the 62nd minute Lloyd Rawlatt hit the post with a low angled shot across goal with the rebound falling to a Pagham attacker who was fouled before he could tuck it away. A penalty was awarded to the away side and the Boatmen did not argue, although Pagham didn’t really appeal for the foul either. Callum Overton stepped up but Ryan Gosney pulled off a great penalty save by diving to his right to push the ball away.

The game hit its only lull of the afternoon with 15 minutes to go, but in the final few minutes there was more entertainment for the fans with two quality goals. In the 86th minute Sholing made it 6-1 with a goal for BRAD TARGETT. He chased a lost cause ball down the right wing that looked to be going out for a goal kick, checked back past a defender and then ran along the line towards the near post, which was being protected by the keeper and another defender, but somehow with a blur of quick feet and skill, Targett swapped the ball from one foot to the other, chipping it up a little to then lift it high into the roof of the net past a bemused keeper for his 10th goal of the season.

Despite the Boatmen dominance throughout the 90 minutes, added time was spent in their half as Pagham sought another consolation goal and they got it in the 92nd minute. After two long range attempts by the away team were saved comfortably by Gosney, it was third time lucky when George Gaskin let rip from the edge of the box and it flew into the top corner leaving the home goalkeeper with no chance.

This was a performance that ensures nobody will want to draw the Boatmen in the next round as their remarkable season continues with an astonishing, 17th win in a row. FT: 6-2

Report by Connor Steel

Next Game :  Sholing v Fareham Town - Saturday 8th Dec 3pm - Wessex Premier

Photos by Ray Routledge (click an image to enlarge)