Sholing2 1AFCBU21

Scorers : Dan Mason 41, Jake Hoole 87  /  Jaidon Anthony 37

Date: Monday 11th March 2019 - 7:45pm - Hampshire Senior Cup Quarter Final

Venue: Universal Stadium

Sholing:  Ryan Gosney, TJ Cuthbertson, Marvin Mclean (Brad Targett 72), Owen Roundell, Dan Miller, Alex Sawyer, Owen Royl, Byron Mason [c], Dan Mason (Jack Nicholas 78), Lee Wort, Jake Hoole. Unused Subs: Bradey Norton, Kev Brewster & Ryan Mackney

Yellow Cards:

AFC Bournemouth U21: Will Dennis, Brooklyn Genesin, Jordan Zemura, Luke Nippard, Zeno Ibsen Rossi, Harvey Bertrand, Gavin Kilkenny, Tom Dinsmore, Jake Scrimshaw, Jaidon Anthony, Jake Cope. Subs: Cameron Plain (g/k), Nathan Moriah-Welsh, Luke Pardoe, Jack Torniainen & Euan Pollock

Yellow Cards:

Attendance: 160

Referee: James Robinson  Assistants: Peter Lowe & Andrew Dunn  Fourth Official: Sean Jenkins

Jake Hoole smashed a late winner with 3 minutes to go to book the Boatmen's place in the Hampshire Cup Semi Finals with a fantastic win and performance against AFC Bournemouth U21's.  The full time academy and professionals of the Premier League side dominated possession, but apart from Anthony's first half strike, created few clear cut opportunites against a resolute Boatmen defence. Dan Mason's equaliser just before half time took his goal tally to 52, but it was Hoole's thunderbolt on 87 mins that deservedly gave Sholing the win in a terrific match to watch.

Team News: Lee Wort returned from suspension, but Pete Castle was unavailable and Jack Smith missed out through injury.  It was Sholing's 50th game of the season, 16th of 2019 already and came just two days after a tough league game at Cowes.  AFC Bournemouth fielded a young side, with 8 members of their U18 squad, but also included Jaidon Anthony, formally of Arsenal, who was awarded a full time pro contract by the Cherries recently.  Another full time professional & Irish Youth international, Kilkenny, was joined in the starting line up by Jordan Zemura, on trial from Charlton, where he has featured in their first team squad. Another familiar name was Harvey Bertrand, younger brother of Saints' Ryan.

On an increasingly cold and windy evening, a decent crowd gathered to see this intriguing game between the Wessex League leaders and the Premier League Academy youngsters.  Cherries were playing out from the back, but Sholing were quick to close them down, often winning possession, but unable to create an end product.  Slowly, Bournemouth started to get their passing game going and began to dominate possession with some quick interpassing and movement.  In particular, both left backs were catching the eye. Marv McLean was doing well both in defence and in attack, showing his pace, skill and reading of danger.  His opposite number, Zemura went on some blistering runs, showing the kind of pace that Sholing never encounter at the level we play at.

Sholing had the first half chance on goal when Dan Mason back headed a ball into the area, but it looped just over the crossbar.  The Cherries went straight down the other end to take the lead. Scrimshaw had a shot well saved by the diving Gosney, but the away side were able to retrieve the ball, with Zemura teeing up Jaidon Anthony to find the top corner from close range on 37 mins

The Boatmen hit back 4 minutes later when Alex Sawyer's deep inswinging corner evaded everyone, expect DAN MASON who had peeled off from the middle of the goal to find himself unmarked at the far post with the simple task of knocking the ball over the line from a yard out. That was D-Dan's 52 goal in 47 games this season and took the sides in level at the break.  HT 1-1

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It was an even start to the second half, but the pattern of play soon mirrored the first half, with Bournemouth seeing a lot of the ball and using it well to break forward at pace.  However, they were perhaps a little shot shy around the area, although the Sholing defence was doing well to close down in dangerous positions, especially with some excellent tackling, making sure they didn't concede any freekicks in threatening areas.

Set pieces did see Sholing have the advantage, physically, and on 63 minutes that was demonstrated when Byron Mason beat two defenders to a freekick, but his downward header was comfortable for the keeper to claim.   Marv had run himself into the ground and was subbed on 72 minutes, with Brad Targett coming on and Jake Hoole going to an unfamiliar left back position. Dan Mason reacted quickly to a dropping ball in the area, but on the stretch, he more trapped the ball, than hit it, enabling the keeper to clear up.  Dan was also struggling with injury and was replaced on 78 mins by Jack Nicholas.

The game appeared to be heading to penalties, with the young Cherries still playing the ball around neatly, but without threatening Gosney and Sholing working very hard and staying organised at the back, whilst also causing Bournemouth problems at set-pieces. The Boatmen caused a scramble in the Cherries area from successive balls swung in from either flank, but the visitors managed to hack clear. 

Then with 3 minutes to go, Sholing got the winner. Lee Wort won the ball from a Gosney clearance and fed Brad Targett on the left side of the area. Brad appeared to think about having a shot, but wisely checked back and then set the ball into the path of the overlapping JAKE HOOLE, who smashed an unstoppable angled shot from 15 yards that screamed into the roof of the net!

Bournemouth frantically went looking for an equaliser and almost got it when Anthony's well struck shot was pushed away with a full length save by Ryan Gosney.  Then with the last kick of the game, Anthony hit a shot on the run that was travelling at a rate of knots, but happily for Sholing, also wide of the target.   The Boatmen celebrated a thrilling win to reward their fantastic team work.  Yes, Sholing were the more experienced side, but considering the huge toll of games in recent weeks and the fact our lads all have day jobs, yet still matched full time young footballers for fitness, means they deserve all the plaudits for a great performance.  FT 2-1

Sholing will be at home in the Semi Final to National League side, Havant & Waterlooville. Game will take place next Tuesday 19th March 7:45pm at the Universal Stadium.

Dave Diaper said after the game : "Great win tonight against a quality AFC Bournemouth U21 Team. We had to dig deep and sometimes hold on, but we always competed for every ball. At one stage it looked like we were playing against 16 players with the way they quickly shifted the ball around, so credit to the lads for getting the result"

Next Game :  Baffins Milton Rovers v Sholing - Thursday 14 March 7:45pm - Wessex Premier

Photos by Ray Routledge (click an image to enlarge)

AFC Bournemouth's Match Report is Here

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Commentary from Matt Ponter and Luke Henry Filmed by Dave Miller