Cribbs0 2Sholing

Scorers : Dan Mason 10, Lee Wort 90+3

Date: Saturday 5 January 2019 - 3pm - The Buildbase FA Vase Fourth Round

Venue: The Lawns

Cribbs: Archie Watts, Charlie Aldom, Matt Spiller, Sam Hedges, Ryan Couch, Jake Hodgson [c], Lewis Hedges, Dan Spicer (Harry Simmons 86), George King, Sol Wanjau-Smith (Jason Vincent 80), George Kellow (Sam Oakley 57). Unused Subs: Nathan Trueman & Jack Feighan

Yellow Cards: Sam Hedges

Sholing: Ryan Gosney, TJ Cuthbertson, Marvin McLean, Pete Castle, Dan Miller, Jamie Bulpitt (Owen Royl 46), Alex Sawyer, Byron Mason [c], Dan Mason, Lee Wort, Brad Targett (Jake Hoole 70). Unused Subs: Kevin Brewster, Jack Smith & Owen Roundell

Yellow Cards: Dan Mason

Attendance: 155 (approx 50 Sholing fans)

Referee: Martin Underhay  Assistants: Edward Turner & Neil Lane. 4th Official: Nathanial Rehman

The deadly duo of Dan Mason & Lee Wort once again were on the scoresheet to send the Boatmen through to the last 16 of the FA Vase.  The strikers took their combined total to 68 goals already this season, but it was very much a team victory, with Sholing having to stay disciplined and organised to overcome a Cribbs side that had long spells of possession.

Boatmen's first ever visit to the nicely appointed Cribbs ground, which is set on the side of the hill, with slopes either side of a very decent flat playing surface. On a chilly, but overcast afternoon, Sholing started brightly and created their first chance in the 9th minute. Dan Mason chested a cross into the path of Brad Targett, but he blazed his shot over the bar when well placed. However, this missed opportunity didn't deter the Boatmen as they took the lead just a minute later.

A goal kick landed at the feet of TJ Cuthbertson whose low cross into the box was cleverly dummied by Brad Targett into the path of the inrushing DAN MASON who took a touch to compose himself, before drilling past the keeper and into the bottom corner for goal number 37 of the season.  The goal was greeted with a huge roar from the noisy Sholing fans in the stand.

This was really the only clear-cut opportuniy of the first half as Cribbs had a lot of possession, playing out from the back and having some luck breaking down the right wing, although without an end product to worry Gosney. Byron Mason headed wide from a corner, but there wasn't much goalmouth action by either side, although the visiting supporters continued to be singing loud and proudly as the half came to an end. HT: 0-1

The second half began with Owen Royl replacing the injured Jamie Bulpitt and Cribbs creating two chances to equalise in the first ten minutes of the half. Firstly Sol Wanjau-Smith found space behind the Sholing defence and cut inside on the edge of the penalty area. However, his shot was more a danger to the corner flag than the goal. Moments later, a flick header from a freekick was well saved by Ryan Gosney.

With Sholing not pushing either TJ or Marv up the flanks to support attacks, it meant Cribbs had a lot of the ball, but a well organised defence restricted them to long range shots and crosses into the penalty area that were either headed away or confidently claimed by the calming prescence of Gosney.

Sholing were not posing the home defence too many issues, with some wasteful possession, which meant the majority of the play stayed in the Boatmen's half.  Cribbs were trying to get in behind on either flank, switching the ball well from midfield, but still the home side weren't able to create much, although when they did have a clear sight of goal, the shot went straight at Gosney.

In the 78th minute, Cribbs appealed for a penalty as one of their players cut across Wort, but the referee immediately waved away appeals and the game had to be halted after some minor confrontations between both sets of players. This led to a stoppage in which Cribbs defender Sam Hedges was booked for dissent as the referee and the officials calmed the situation down.

With Cribbs throwing everything forward as 5 minutes of added time was revealed by the 4th official, the Sholing defence that has 19 clean sheets already under their belt, soaked up some more pressure, but then broke away to make sure of the victory.  Pete Castle's big clearance out of defence and up the middle of the pitch saw LEE WORT get to the ball before the last defender to go clean through on goal, the Cribbs keeper came rushing out, but slipped over in the process, allowing Wort to casually go round him and roll the ball into the empty net for his 31st of the season and see Sholing take another step on their FA Vase adventure.  FT 0-2

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Thank you to Cribbs for their excellent hospitality and all the best for the remainder of the season.  Many thanks to the Sholing supporters who made the trip and got behind the team so well.

The Draw for the FA Vase 5th Round is live on Talksport2 at 12:15pm on Monday

Report by Connor Steel

Next Game : Sholing v AFC Stoneham - Tuesday 8 January 7:45pm - Russell Cotes Cup

Photos Courtesy of Will Cheshire (click an image to view) Full Flickr Gallery Here