Date: Saturday 7th March 2020 - 3:00pm - Betvictor Southern League South Division One
Venue: Mill Road
Barnstaple Town: Adam Seedhurst-Evans, Elliott Williams, Brian Levien ©, Oliver Gardner, Josh Baxter, Mikkel Fosu, Tony Radford, Mitchell Thomas (Ross Middleton 77), Yohan Rutty-Smith, Javan Wright, Vincent Wright-Harper Inniss. Unused subs : Ben Paul, Kevin Darch
Yellow Cards:
Sholing: Ryan Gosney, Tobi Falodi, Marv McLean, Owen Roundell, Dan Miller, Owen Royl, Brad Targett, Byron Mason ©, Dan Mason, Stu Green, Jake Hoole (Jack Nicholas 63). Unused subs : TJ Cuthbertson, James Lauder, Joe Smith, Marlon Mason
Yellow Cards: Brad Targett
Attendance: 283
Referee: Stuart Ash Assistants: Thomas Anstice-Mitchell & Ryan Cornelius
Sholing made their longest trip of the season thus far, heading into Devon for their first ever visit to Barnstaple Town, coming away with a point after failing to breakdown the hard working home side.
Team News: Following on from the midweek win, Diapes was forced into one change with Lee Wort failing a pre-match fitness test with Brad Targett coming in. Boatmen had a full bench for a change on their travels, with TJ, Nicholas and Marlon Mason joining James Lauder & Joe Smith.
It was overcast with the sun trying to break through, however the defining factor of the day was the wind which was strong at times, meaning it wasn’t going to be a day for pretty football. Barnstaple Town lined up in front of their biggest crowd of the season with only one player in the line-up that lost at Sholing in November. Boatmen kicked off with the wind at their backs and Ryan Gosney was to be a virtual spectator in the first 45.
The conditions played a major part in the game and when Sholing had the ball on the ground, Jake Hoole & Brad Targett gave the full backs a tough time with the Boatmen dominating possession, forcing a dozen corners, but were unable to take advantage of them. Barnstaple were restricted to two long range shots that never tested Gos. Just before half time, Sholing had their best chance, but Dan Miller’s header was well saved by debutant Seedhurst-Evans. HT: 0-0
The 2nd half was looking like it was going to be backs to the wall for the Boatmen as the wind was still relentless. However, the game was being played more on the ground and all of the Sholing team showed great work rate ethic to keep their unbeaten run intact.
Jake Hoole had Sholing’s first effort of the 2nd half, but his shot went just wide of the upright. Dan Miller and Byron Mason at the back were solid and with Barnstaple only scoring twice in their last 4 games, they didn’t look if they were likely to improve on it today. Sholing continued to press forward, but Seedhurst-Evans was equal to whatever we created.
On 92 minutes, Sholing won a free kick central to the Barnstaple goal. Stu Green quickly put the ball out to the right for Brad Targett and he whipped in a deep cross to find Owen Roundell who headed in, only to see the linesman had raised his flag to deny Sholing a winner. However, the point extendes the Boatmen's unbeaten run in the league to 7 games. FT: 0-0
Report by Greg Dickson
Next Game : Cinderford Town v Sholing - Tuesday 7:45pm - Southern League
Next Home Game : Sholing v Bemerton Heath - Thursday 7:45pm - Russell Cotes Cup