Scorers : Stu Green 9, Brad Targett 17  /  Jordan Rogers 49, James Ollis 71 & 78, Dan Demkiv 90+3

Date: Saturday 11th January 2020 - 3:00pm - Betvictor Southern League South Division One

Venue: Mackoy Stadium

Sholing: Ryan Gosney, TJ Cuthbertson, Owen Royl, Owen Roundell, Dan Miller, Jamie Bulpitt (Alex Sawyer 75), Lee Wort, Byron Mason ©, Dan Mason, Stu Green, Brad Targett.  Unused subs : James Lauder, Tobi Falodi, Josh Carey, Joe Smith

Yellow Cards:

Mangotsfield United: Jakob Glover, Josh Bennett, James Byrne, Thomas Llewellyn ©, Luc Noble, Toby Rennie, James Ollis, Robbie Cox, Dan Demkiv, Camden Duncan (Jake Thomas 75), Jordan Rogers (Ben Brooks 86).  Unused subs : Joseph Hall, Oliver Price

Yellow Cards: Luc Noble, James Ollis, Jordan Rogers

Attendance: 104

Referee: Peter Lowe  Assistants: Adrian Cook & Samuel Hunt

Powerplus Man of the Match : Owen Royl

A shocking and uncharacteristic collapse at home by the Boatmen, saw them crash to defeat after being 2-0 up at half time.  All seemed good at the break after early goals by Green & Targett, but after wasting chances to kill the game off, a gifted goal lit up Mangotsfield, who then turned the game on its head.

Team News : Marv missed out through injury and Jake Hoole pulled up in the warm-up, so Owen Royl went from being a spectator to being on the bench and then drafted into the starting line-up at left back. The visitors had a very young line-up with several players having recently joined the club and one making his debut.

With a gusty strong wind blowing down the length of the pitch, Sholing had it at their backs as they started brightly with Dan Mason setting up Stu Green, who dragged his shot just wide.  Soon after, Brad Targett had space on the left, but shot straight at Mangotsfield's teenage keeper.  The opening goal soon arrived on 9 minutes when TJ's cross into the box saw Glover attempt a punch that went more up than away, dropping for STU GREEN to do well to control a first time volley on the stretch that hammered high into the net.

Mangotsfield had a couple of shots go just off target, before the Boatmen doubled their lead on 17 mins.  Some nice passing football through the away defence saw Green set the ball into the path of BRAD TARGETT in loads of space and he had plenty of time to calmly slot it past the keeper.

Mangotsfield won a freekick just outside the box which led to a scramble and a decent double save by Gosney.  With the wind getting stronger, Sholing changed from passing the ball when going forward to a more direct approach.  Which, despite a few problems caused for the visitors defence by the wind, which meant goal kicks and clearances weren't reaching anywhere near the half way line, didn't see the home side create much.  But overall, Sholing had done well in the first half and were in control with no indication of what was to come.  HT 2-0

Boatmen should have killed the game off in the first minute after the restart as Dan Mason freed Brad Targett, who with two unmarked players waiting for a tap-in, decided to shoot, giving the keeper a relatively routine tip over the bar.   Then on 49 minutes, the tone of the game was changed by Sholing gifting Mangotsfield a way back into the match.  Stu Green's underhit backpass was seized upon by Jordan Rogers and with Gosney slipping as he came out, he had the simple task of scoring.

Sholing should still have killed the game off before the hour mark, with Green rushing a shot and putting it wide, before he did find the net a minute later, but it was ruled out for offside.  Then Lee Wort had an angled shot well saved by Glover, but from that point onwards, it was to be all Mangotsfield.  They drew level on 71 mins when James Ollis was allowed space and time on the edge of the box to turn and shoot low into the bottom corner.    Dave Diaper changed Bulpitt for Sawyer in central midfield, but it was perhaps more numbers that Sholing needed in that area as they were now being swamped by a Mangotsfield side that were winning every first and second ball.

It was no surprise when the visitors went ahead in the 78th minute. As Sholing had done in the opening period of the game, passing the ball at pace was working much better than using the wind for direct football and Mangotsfield zipped the ball around, exposing a big gap on the left which James Ollis filled as he slotted across Gosney to score.

Sholing's only response was to hit and hope, as mistake followed mistake and frustration grew. The young Mangotsfield defence coped comfortably with the long balls and appeared to win every aerial challenge.  The visitors were even able to turn down the chance to waste a bit of added time, instead carving Sholing open for a shot to be initially saved by Gosney, but the rebound was put on a plate for former Saints academy player, Dan Demkiv to tap into an empty net.  

It's extremely rare to see Sholing cave in like this, in fact, I can't ever recall seeing us lose a lead in this manner at home.  We normally bounce back well from disappointment and with only three points between the bottom 5 teams, we will have to in the league games to come.   FT 2-4

Next Game : AFC Stoneham v Sholing - Tuesday 7:45pm - Hampshire Cup (Everyone has to register to enter Stoneham's new ground.  Click here)
Next Home Game : Sholing v Hamble Club - Thursday 7:45pm - Southampton Senior Cup