Sholing 3-2 Bideford AFC

Sholing3 2Bideford

Scorers : Stuart Green 31 & 83, Lee Wort 34 / Ryan Turner 1 & 7

Date: Saturday 19th October 2019 - 3:00pm - Betvictor Southern League South Division One

Venue: Mackoy Stadium

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Sholing: Ryan Gosney, Marvin Mclean, Jake Hoole, TJ Cuthbertson, Dan Miller, Stuart Green, Bryon Mason ©, Jamie Bulpitt (Alex Sawyer 78), Bradley Targett, Dan Mason, Lee Wort (Marlon Mason 89). Unused Subs: Owen Roundell, Owen Royl & James Lauder

Yellow Cards: Jamie Bulpitt

Bideford AFC: Liam Kingston, Aaron Taylor, Stephen Reed, Ian Sampson, James Mayne, Toby Down (David Jerrard 86), Benjamin Carter © (Niall Heeney 57) , Max Smallcombe, Ryan Turner (Domenico Panesar-Dower 70), Theo Simpson, Aaron Goulty. Unused subs: Archie Reay & Lewis Waldy

Yellow Cards: Ryan Turner, Stephen Reed, Benjamin Carter & Theo Simpson

Attendance: 127

Referee: Ciaran Barlow Assistants: Stephan Liddard & Benjamin Duffill

Dansach Man of the Match : Stuart Green

Sholing picked up a much-needed league victory by beating Devon-based Bideford at a sunny Mackoy Stadium. The Boatmen showed great spirit to rally from a two-goal deficit with a goal from the returning Lee Wort (his 250th for the club) and two more from impressive new signing Stuart Green, ensuring the win in an eventful match.

Team News: Club record goalscorer Lee Wort went straight into the starting line-up after being re-signed on Friday following months travelling the world and having not kicked a ball in anger since April. He was making his 450th appearance for the Boatmen. Owen Roundell dropped to the bench suffering with a bit of whiplash, meaning TJ went to centre back, Marv switched to right back and Jake Hoole filled in at left back. Jamie Bulpitt recovered and replaced Alex Sawyer in midfield as Sholing took to the field with a very attacking line-up.

Dave Diaper might of been having second thoughts about his selection as Bideford raced into a two nil lead inside the first 7 minutes. In just the first minute, a cross by left-back Stephen Reed was flicked into the path of Ryan Turner with the Sholing defence momentarily switching off, the Robin’s striker took a low first-time shot that curled past the diving Ryan Gosney and into the far corner.

It was two-nil to the visitors when a corner was headed back into the penalty area and a shot from No 10 ended in a hand-ball appeal by Bideford. The Boatmen defence seemed not to play to the whistle, which allowed Ryan Turner to poke a low effort that trickled into the bottom corner after somehow going through a crowd of bodies.

Sholing, looking unsure at the back, had to go on the attack and in the 10th minute, Brad Targett nodded goalwards, but a defender was on the line to head it away. After that, Dan Mason lined up a dropping ball in the area for an overhead kick, but he made contact with James Mayne, who needed treatment for a bloody nose and had to go off for a few minutes whilst the bleeding stopped.

After a spell of scrappy play, the game sprung back into life as Sholing scored twice in 3 minutes with two quality goals. Interplay from Bideford ended due to a loose pass and Jamie Bulpitt capitalised with a fine through ball into the path of STUART GREEN. "Greener" made no mistake in advancing on the right side of the box and sending a first time angled daisycutter across Liam Kingston into the bottom corner to make it three goals in two games for the new signing.

That was a great finish and quickly after, there was an even better one. Stu Green put his head in where it hurts to nod the ball into the path of LEE WORT, who cut inside, dropped a shoulder to swerve past three Bideford defenders and finish with aplomb past the keeper like he had never been away! Could see how much it meant to him and his teammates as he was mobbed in front of the Ultra's stand. 250 goals in 450 games is an astonishing return for any striker.

With the scores reflecting the gameplay, the last ten minutes of the half saw openings for each side. Dan Mason was through on goal but Bideford keeper Liam Kingston denied him, before the away side had a shot blocked. Frustration of losing a two-goal advantage began to show when Bideford goal-scorer Ryan Turner was booked for a needless challenge on TJ Cuthbertson in the final moments. HT: 2-2

The second half began with both teams creating chances in the opening ten minutes, with the visitors going close first. Bideford striker Theo Simpson found himself through on goal and sent a low shot across Ryan Gosney, but the ball struck the inside of the far post before rebounding across the line and into the arms of Gosney. Lee Wort flicked the ball up in the box and it appeared to hit the arm of a defender, but the Referee said no. Then Sholing captain Byron Mason fed Stuart Green to cut inside, but his effort flew harmlessly wide from the edge of the area.

Moments later Brad Targett found himself in space down the left and raced towards goal, but Bideford keeper Liam Kingston was equal to the rising shot and pushed it over the bar for a corner that came to nothing. Not to be deterred the Boatmen continued to push forward and created a good chance in the fifty-sixth minute. Jake Hoole found himself in space and sent in a peach of a whipped in cross that was met by Lee Wort at the back post, but the striker saw his header smack the top of the bar.

Game entered a frustrating period where both sides struggled to keep possession. There were still half chances as Bideford’s Max Smallcombe shot tamely at Ryan Gosney and their captain Benjamin Carter fired over with an ambitious effort. Sholing also saw Dan Mason head over under pressure and create several openings that were blocked or cleared by a stubborn away defence. As the clock ticked down it became apparent that one further goal for either side would clinch the points and this theory did prove correct.

Sholing took all the points with seven minutes left when a clearance was charged down by Dan Mason on the halfway line, D-Dan than did well to chase down the loose ball before it went into touch and put over a cross into the middle of the box that was met by STUART GREEN to slot home a first-time finish past the despairing dive of Liam Kingston at his near post. 4 goals in 2 games for Stu, who looks a class signing. Boatmen then saw out the match with some sensible game management for their third league win of the season. FT: 3-2

Report by Connor Steel

Next Game : Marlow v Sholing - Saturday 26 Oct 3pm - FA Trophy

Photos by Ray Routledge (click an image to enlarge)

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