Scorers : Josh Searle 19, Callum Hall 75
Date: Saturday 28th September 2019 - 3:00pm - Betvictor Southern League South Divison One
Venue: Stan Robinson Stadium, Silver Street
Willand Rovers: Mike Searle, Josh Searle, Will Richards, Adam Hill, Ryan Guppy, Joe Curtis ©, Craig Veal (Aiden Moyle 85), Rob Norrish, Dean Stamp (Callum Hall 65), Douglas Camilo (Brett Worbey 57), Ben Bickle. Unused subs : David Steele, Luke Manley
Yellow Cards:
Sholing: Ryan Gosney, Tobi Falodi (Owen Royl 80), Marv Mclean, Dean Faithfull, Dan Miller, Jamie Bulpitt (James Lauder 80), Marlon Mason (Owen Roundell 40), Alex Sawyer, Dan Mason, Byron Mason ©, Brad Targett
Yellow Cards: Jamie Bulpitt
Attendance: 144 (approx 20 Sholing fans)
Referee: Devon Campbell Assistants: Luke McFarlane & Matthew Carney
Individual errors cost Sholing as they lost their second successive game and retain a very unwanted 100% record of defeats away from home in the League. The Boatmen cannot have many complaints as they were second best against the Devon-based Willand Rovers in the rain at Silver Street.
Team News: TJ Cuthbertson & Jack Nicholas were unavailable & Jake Hoole suspended, so Tobi Falodi stepped up to fall back and Dean Faithfull replaced Owen Roundell at centre back. Owen was one of only 3 subs and with the first team squad currently a bit thin, after the game, Dave Diaper mentioned he's working on bringing in an experienced new signing.
It was clash of the newly promoted teams as the Western League Champions hosted the Wessex League Champions, at Willand's well looked after ground in the heart of the village. The home side started very brightly and saw a penalty appeal waved away from the referee, who seemed to be having more touches of the ball than some Sholing players after getting in the way of passes on two occasions early on. Shortly afterwards Ben Bickle saw a shot curl just wide of the post before Will Richards forced a great save from Ryan Gosney who tipped the left back’s effort away for a corner.
Rovers link up play and movement were causing the Boatmen problems, so it was no surprise when they took a deserved lead in the 19th minute when Sholing lost the ball in the midfield area. Douglas Camilo found Craig Veal in space down the wing and the attacking player advanced forward, before feeding Josh Searle with a backheel at the edge of the penalty area. The right back hit a low finish that skidded off the wet surface and beat Ryan Gosney into the bottom corner, despite the Sholing keeper getting a hand to the ball.
The deficit spurred the Boatmen forward and they did eventually create some half chances around the thirty minute mark. Bradley Targett fed Alex Sawyer, with the midfielder curling an effort harmlessly wide of the goal. A corner was then headed over the crossbar by Dan Miller, before space opened up on the edge of the box for Alex Sawyer. His low shot was saved by Willand keeper Mike Searle, whose parry was then cleared away by his defenders to safety.
Despite the Boatmen’s short spell of pressure, they were still careless in possession and Willand Rovers were looking comfortable and creating the clearest opportunities. Dean Stamp fired low across the goal from an narrow angle following cute interchange down the right, before a free kick from Douglas Camilo hit the base of the post from twenty yards out in the last meaningful action of the first half dominated by the home side. Willand were no doubt happy with their 1st half performance, but probably disappointed not to be further ahead as the ref's whistle blew. HT: 1-0
Sholing knew they had to improve in the second half and they did create a few half chances in the early stages after the restart. Firstly Dan Mason hit a low shot towards goal, but the tame effort didn’t test the keeper. Jamie Bulpitt saw a volley fly harmlessly over the bar after a corner was partically cleared, before the midfielder was booked for a mistimed tackle on the half-way line after an hour.
Dan Mason turned his marker in the sixty-fifth minute, however the striker’s effort was low and angled towards the far corner, which made it easier for Searle to gather comfortably. Alex Sawyer’s free kick was then plucked out of the top corner by the keeper, who was having an easier game than he probably expected.
Perceived dominance from Sholing was not converted by the away side, which cost them as Willand Rovers looked particularly dangerous on the counter attack. Josh Searle hit the side-netting and Will Richards had a shot blocked at source by a sliding Sholing defender, but the home side weren’t to be denied for long after a calamity by the away defence.
Ryan Gosney found himself rushing out to clear a long ball forward, but with the pitch getting more and more skiddy under the persistent rain, Gos' air-shot at the ball was a gift to Callum Hall, who controlled the loose ball and ran it into the empty net to seal the points. With the Boatmen looking a beaten side, Willand Rovers nearly made it three moments later when interplay ended with an angled shot off the post, before William Richards dragged the rebound wide of the far post.
Although Sholing made two substitutions with James Lauder and Owen Royl entering the fray, it didn’t influence the proceedings. The home side kept a clean sheet with relative ease and claimed their second league win of the current season, which lifted them above Sholing in the table. Willand were the better side throughout and it left the Sholing management wondering how to address the poor away form in the league. FT: 2-0
Many thanks to Willand Rovers for their friendly welcome & excellent hospitality.
Report by Connor Steel
Next Games:
Sholing v Moneyfields - Tuesday 7:45pm - Southern League Challenge Cup
Sholing v Winchester City - Saturday 3pm - Southern League South Div 1
