Hamble0 1Sholing

Scorers : Brad Targett 82

Date: Wednesday 27 March 2019 - 7:45pm - Sydenhams Wessex Premier

Venue: The Abbey

Hamble Club: Brad Snelling, Jake Newton, Ricky Bull, PJ McLean, Mike Byrne [c], Callum Kitcher, Liam Crook (Ben Kemplen 84), Ryan Wilkins, Nathan Lynch, Owen Fee, Marlon Mason (Barry Mason 60).  Unused subs: Rory Anderson, Richard Bridle, Tom Green.

Yellow Cards:

Sholing: Ryan Gosney, TJ Cuthbertson, Marv Mclean (Jamie Bulpitt 43), Pete Castle, Dan Miller, Owen Roundell, Alex Sawyer, Byron Mason [c], Dan Mason, Lee Wort, Jake Hoole (Brad Targett 76).  Unused subs : Kev Brewster, Owen Royl, Bradey Norton.

Yellow Cards:

Attendance: 245

Referee:  John Foster   Assistants:  James Colley & George Redford

Sholing secured the Sydenhams Wessex Premier title before the clocks change, with a narrow win over Hamble Club in the local derby. Brad Targett came off the bench to light the game up with an 82nd minute volley to enable the Boatmen to be crowned Champions with 8 games remaining after a truly dominant season where they were never off first place in the league.

Team News: For the first time in a while, Dave Diaper had nearly all his squad available for selection, with the Boatmen requiring just 1 more point to be sure of the title.  Hamble had their usual large smattering of former Sholing players in their squad, with the Monks looking to be party poopers and get their first ever win over the Boatmen.

A big crowd had gathered at the always improving "Abbey" on an evening that rapidly got colder and colder and for the spectators, there wasn't much to get excited about in a scrappy opening to the game.  Marv McLean livened things up with a great bit of skill to leave Marlon Mason for dead, but Marv's right foot shot as he cut into the box was always rising.  Lee Wort tried a daisy cutter from 20 yards that seemed to take Snelling by surprise as he pushed the ball away down at his near post.  Up the other end, Wilkins tried a similar shot, but his effort skidded wide.

Alex Sawyer saw an inswinging corner clawed out under his bar by Snelling, before another good run by Marv saw his fired in cross deflect to Roundell on the edge of the box, but he delayed taking a first time shot and was quickly closed down.  There was a blow for the Boatmen on 43 minutes when Marv McLean picked up an injury. Jamie Bulpitt came on in his place, with Roundell going to left back.  It was a half when both teams largely cancelled each other out, but Sholing were half way to getting the point they needed. HT: 0-0

After what felt like a very long break, the teams came out and the match restarted in a similar fashion to the first half.  Hamble did create a good chance on 53 minutes as Marlon Mason got beyond the backline, but Ryan Gosney came quickly off his line to save with his legs.  Flow of the game wasn't helped by a lengthy stoppage after Lee Wort & Brad Snelling collided on the edge of the 6 yard box. Both continued, but Snelling in particular looked as though he was struggling.  He did get down well to fall on a Dan Mason snap shot from the edge of the area.  Nathan Lynch tried his luck with distance and connected well with his strike, but it was straight at Gosney.

Ex-Boatmen, PJ Mclean & Mike Byrne were on top against the league's deadliest strikers, clearing everything that came their way on the ground and in the air as the game looked set to remain a stalemate.  The Sholing backline were equally in charge and with not much creativity coming from either midfield, the game appeared to be petering out.

With just a point needed, Dave Diaper could have brought on a more defensive minded player to see out the game, but that's not his way, instead putting on Brad Targett for the final 15 minutes to try to win the match.  It worked!  On 82 minutes Gosney's long clearance down the middle was nodded on by Lee Wort into the path of BRAD TARGETT who burst beyond the last man and with the ball sitting up nicely, lashed a brilliant first time volley from 18 yards past the onrushing keeper and into the net to send the large number of Sholing fans delirious.

Jamie Bulpitt almost got a second goal, but his goalbound shot was deflected just over as the Boatmen were able to see out the final moments and added time to celebrate being Wessex Premier Champions with the Sholing supporters.  FT 0-1

Dave Diaper said afterwards : "That’s the League won and thanks to the players for buying into the belief that we had right from the first game of the season, that this was gonna be our year. Thanks to our supporters who have grown in numbers as the season has progressed, the Ultras are second to none. UTB!"

Byron Mason added : "Great shift from all involved! The last month has been very tough and demanding with good results and bad ones, but we got there in the end, so up the boys! Special mention to the fans who have followed us all year and kept the spirit up"

Next Games:

Sholing v Bemerton Heath - Saturday 3pm - Wessex Premier
Horndean v Sholing - Tuesday 2 April - Wessex Premier
Sholing v Brockenhurst - Saturday 6 April 3pm - Wessex Premier - FREE ADMISSION

Photos courtesy of Ray Routledge (click an image to enlarge)

View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://sholingfc.co.uk/index.php/first-team/fixtures/23-2018-19-match-reports/492-hamble-club-0-1-sholing#sigProIdec10ad4d17

Video Highlights Courtesy of Hamble Club

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