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Scorers : Lee Wort 39, 59, 83, Byron Mason 22, Dan Mason 50 / Simon Woods 85

Date: Saturday 8th December 2018 - 3pm - Sydenhams Wessex Premier

Venue: Universal Stadium

Sholing: Ryan Gosney, TJ Cuthbertson, Marvin Mclean (Jack Smith 78), Owen Roundell, Dan Miller, Owen Royl, Jamie Bulpitt (Kev Brewster 78), Byron Mason [c], Dan Mason, Lee Wort, Brad Targett (Jake Hoole 80). Unused Subs: Alex Sawyer & Pete Castle

Yellow Cards: Brad Targett

Fareham Town: Declan McCarthy, Jon May, Ash Tattersall (Sam Chandler 12), Ed Placett, Tom Froggatt, Garry Moody, Curt Robbins, Will Capper, Simon Woods, Gary Austin [c] (Junior Kamara 65), Daniel Brook (Munotida Kuwana 18). Unused Subs: Ethan Whyte

Yellow Cards: Will Capper

Attendance: 91

Referee: Michael Taylor  Assistants: Marcus Ward & Safwan Mohammed

Emerald Motors Man of the Match : Lee Wort

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A hat-trick by Lee Wort helped the Boatmen to a thumping victory against Fareham Town to continue their 100% start to the league season with 15 wins from 15 matches. This was a comfortable win by Sholing against a lacklustre Creeksiders who last season, were the Boatmen's bogey side, but today, the League Leaders cruised to the three points.

Team News: Dave Diaper made three changes following last week’s win over Pagham. Pete Castle, Alex Sawyer (just returned from a week’s holiday) & Jake Hoole dropped to the bench. Owen Roundell, Owen Royl and Brad Targett replaced them in a now familiar squad. 

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On an afternoon in which the weather changed its mind throughout, the game kicked off in windy conditions and on a heavy pitch with Sholing creating the first chance on 2 minutes when it surprised no-one when Dan Mason spun his marker in the area, but it did surprise everyone when his close range shot didn't hit the target.

Fareham Town had a familiar face in goal, but also somewhat of a surprising one. Last time we saw Declan McCarthy, was a couple of seasons ago when he was a central midfielder in a short spell at Sholing.  Since then, he's become a goalkeeper and sometimes turns out for adidas' "Tango Squad".  His defence was keeping busy as Sholing pressed foreward, but some wayward final balls meant they didn't work the keeper.  Fareham did not have a single shot in the first half, but they were also unlucky after having to make two early changes due to injuries. losing Tattersall after 12 minutes & Brock after 18 minutes.

Sholing seemed to click into a higher gear on the 20-minute mark when they had a goal disallowed for offside when Bradley Targett’s low shot went through the legs of the defender and Lee Wort slotted home. However,they did take the lead just minutes later when a corner by TJ Cuthbertson found the skipper BYRON MASON, who arrived through the usual melee of bodies to head home.

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It should have been 2-0 just moments later when a TJ Cuthbertson cross was flicked on by Fareham defenders to Bradley Targett, but his diving header hit the inside of the post and was cleared after the ball rolled sideways across the line.  In the 26th minute a good point blank save by McCarthy denied Lee Wort after great one touch passing opened space in the box.

Sholing were regularly having shots on target as they searched for the second goal, but they were denied by a series of regulation saves and defensive blocks by the away team. However, just before the break the Boatmen got the goal they deserved after Bradley Targett turned the right back inside out before passing the ball back to LEE WORT in space. As the keeper scrambled across to him, Wort, checked past him and smashed into the net.  HT: 2-0

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The second half kicked off in a very heavy downpour made worse by the swirling wind, but Sholing did not let this affect them as they scored a third goal in the 51st minute. A corner was flicked on and never left the penalty area, before falling to Lee Wort, whose shot deflected in off DAN MASON with D-Dan claiming his 33rd goal of the season and one that effectively guaranteed Sholing the win, as Fareham's heads visibly dropped and they became disorganised, repeatedly gifting possession to the Boatmen.

After Byron had gone on a surging run which ended with an angled shot that clipped the bar, it was 4-0 to the Boatmen in the 59th minute. Dan Mason pressured the Fareham backline into a mistake, winning the ball and finding LEE WORT, who fired in an angled shot past the keeper & into the corner.  This was Sholing’s 100th goal of the season in all competitions in just 31 games, averaging over 3 a game to date.

With the game won it could be argued that Sholing took their foot off the gas slightly and this meant the match was petering out to its conclusion.  However, they were still creating chances at will and were again rewarded when LEE WORT secured his hat-trick in style in the 83rd minute. Jake Hoole did very well to get the ball into the box, hooking it over his shoulder and it found Wort who fired in off the post with a half volley. Was also Wort's 30th goal of the season as his partnership with Dan Mason has already seen the net bulge 63 times.

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Fareham Town scored a consolation in the 85th minute with arguably, their only serious effort on goal in the match and although the finish by Simon Woods was well taken, he was gifted the opportunity after a lapse by Gosney, who had almost nothing to do all afternoon.  In the end it was a routine (but still very enjoyable) victory, in a game that was more comfortable then expected before kick off.  FT 5-1

Report by Connor Steel

Jamie Spoor spoke after the game with Dave Diaper : “We never really got out of second gear, I can’t complain at a 5-1 win, but I felt we could have done more in the first half. At half time I told the players to make sure we kept the pressure on, don't let off and not to let them back in the game.  We had enough of the ball and enough chances to win by six or seven, but I’m disappointed at the soft goal we conceded as you always want to try and keep a clean sheet and to be honest we battered them. Despite the scoreline it was a tough game in equally tough conditions, but it’s another win and we’ve got to keep our momentum going during a very difficult run of fixtures.”

Next Game :  Tadley Calleva v Sholing - Tuesday 11th December 7:45pm - Wessex Premier
Next Home Game : Sholing v Bemerton Heath - Saturday 15th December 3pm - Wessex Premier

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