Brockenhurst 1-2 Sholing

Scorers : Toby Bailey 54  /  Stu Green 14, Dan Mason 75

Date: Tuesday 18th August 2020 - 7:30pm - Pre-Season Friendly

Venue: Grigg Lane

Sholing: Ryan Gosney, Barry Mason, Marv McLean, Byron Mason [c], PJ McLean, Jamie Bulpitt, Alex Sawyer, TJ Cuthbertson, Dan Mason, Stuart Green, Brad Targett.  Subs used : Luke Deacon, Charlie Wagstaffe, Liam Crook, James Lauder, Joe Smith, Owen Roundell, Martin Buckland, Rafa Ramos

Attendance: 0

Boatmen repeated the scoreline & the manner of the game from Saturday, with a victory at Brockenhurst on a warm summer's evening in the New Forest.  Our goals were two well worked and excuted efforts, with Stu Green backheeling in before Dan Mason's firmly hit sidefoot won the match with 15 mins to go.

Team News : Byron Mason, Owen Roundell & Dan Mason returned, with first appearances for Luke Deacon, Liam Crook & Martin Buckland.  Nick Watts sat out with an injury and Dan Miller was unavailable. Sholing wore our new home kit, kindly sponsored by South Coast Building Group and Ceno Bar & Restaurant

Boatmen almost scored straight from the kick off as the ball quickly made it's way to Brad Targett in space just inside the area, but the Brockenhurst keeper pushed his effort round the upright.  Alex Sawyer then curled a 22 yard freekick just over. Sholing were knocking the ball around nicely, with a couple of more half chances created before we took the lead on 14 mins.  The ball was nicely worked down the right side before an overlapping Jamie Bulpitt picked out STU GREEN with a low cross into the 6 yard area and Greener finished with a beautifully executed back heeled flick past the keeper.

The home team had barely been in the Sholing half, but on 20 mins could have equalised when a defence splitting pass released a Brock forward, but Gosney was quickly off his line to spread himself to make the save.  His opposite number pulled off an even better save to deny Brad Targett, whose curling right foot effort seemed destined for the top corner until a fingertip stop, put it over the bar.

Sholing continued to get into good positions via attacks down the flanks, with Marv & Targett down the left, especially causing the home side problems. Dan Mason had an effort go wide as the half came to an end. HT 0-1

Dave Diaper gave Luke Deacon his debut in goal, with also Liam Crook & Charlie Wagstaffe coming on for the second half.  Brockenhurst equalised on 54 minutes when a good cross from wide out on the right wing found Toby Bailey unmarked 10 yards out and he buried his header past Deacon.   The home side were looking more lively than Sholing, who were allowing a lot of space in midfield for Brock to operate in.

Luke Deacon had his first saves to make, getting behind shots that were comfortable for the keeper to deal with.  Boatmen were a bit wasteful in possession as the game entered the usual pre-season friendly stage of multilple subs that stop any flow to proceedings.   Marv, who was now playing off the left side of D-Dan, was found in the area, but his first time shot went wide. 

There was a first sight of Martin Buckland, who looked neat and tidy on the right and wasn't afraid to get stuck into a tackle.  He met a cross from the left at the far post with a header, but couldn't direct it on target.   On 75 minutes, Sholing retook the lead when James Lauder fed Marv McLean on the left side of the box and his cut back was perfect for DAN MASON to thump in a first time side foot finish from 12 yards.  Brockenhurst were awarded a freekick right on the edge of Sholing's box in the last minute of the game, but a tame effort was plucked out the air by Luke Deacon.  

More minutes in the tank for the players as we move onto our next friendly at AFC Stoneham on Tuesday.  Hopefully, fans will be allowed in for that one, watch this space.  Thanks to Brockenhurst for hosting the game last night. FT 1-2

Photos by Keith Legg (click an image to enlarge)