Sholing 0-2 Wantage Town

Scorers : Marley Hamilton 31,  Ryan Knight (pen) 33

Date: Saturday 17 October 2020, 3pm – Buildbase FA Trophy Second Round Qualifying

Venue: Mackoy Stadium

Sholing: Ryan Gosney, Marvin Mclean, Jake Hoole, PJ Mclean ©, Dan Miller, Charlie Wagstaffe (Martin Buckland 65), Claudio Herbert, Jamie Bulpitt (Byron Mason 52), Dan Mason, Alex Sawyer, Brad Targett (Nick Watts 74).  Unused subs : Joe Smith & Luke Deacon

Yellow Card: Jamie Bulpitt, Claudio Herbert, Brad Targett

Wantage Town: Tom Middlehurst, Anthony Cheshire, Charlie Killie, Sam Hartley, Jack Alexander, Josh Tooke, Nate Robinson, Tom Ballard ©, Ryan Knight, Dec Shepperd, Marley Hamilton.  Subs : Piers Thompson, James Keller &  Henry Woodcock

Yellow Cards: Middlehurst, Hartley, Alexander

Attendance: 174

Referee: James Welch  Assistants: Rado Illev & Dave Morly

"Would the real Sholing please stand up, please stand up?!"  The inconsistent Boatmen went out of the FA Trophy after a lacklustre display against a hard working Wantage side who deserved the win.  Two goals in as many minutes in the first half put the visitors in a strong position and one that Sholing only sporadically looked like threatening.

Team News: Diapes was without TJ, Roundell & Green, with Byron only just about fit enough for the bench.  Alex Sawyer came into midfield to join Bully and Wagstaffe.  PJ McLean was made Sholing captain for the first time.   Wantage looked down on numbers on their bench, with 3 subs and no physio and a glance at the club's records both last season and this, put the Boatmen down as favourites...

A decent sized crowd saw Sholing have the better of the opening exchanges with Sawyer's curled in freekick glanced wide by Dan Mason on 2 mins.  D-Dan had another header, this time for a corner, but his looping effort was claimed underneath his crossbar by Middlehurst.  Then it all went very flat for Sholing, with Wantage quick to close down and showing the greater energy, especially in midfield.  The "Freds" were also creating more, with a couple of efforts from corners just off target.

So, it was no surprise when Wantage took the lead on 31 mins.  A corner swung in wasn't dealt with by a static Sholing defence and Marley Hamilton gleefully took advantage to score.  A minute or so later, Wantage were awarded a penalty after a very harsh decision by the Ref who adjudged a ball that rolled onto the arm of a Sholing player who was prone in the box, was worthy of a spot kick.  Ryan Knight fired his spot kick down the middle to give Wantage a 2 goal lead.

With something to defend, the Wantage players were even more busy than before, with the Boatmen guilty of losing possession too often and leaving Dan Mason isolated up front.  HT 0-2

Seven minutes after the restart, Byron came on in place of Bulpitt to try to lift the team and pushed forward to give some support to his brother.  On 56 minutes, Jake Hoole fired a well struck 22 yard freekick that Middlehurst did well to push round the post.   However, Sholing were still finding it hard to create sustained pressure as Wantage continued to work their socks off.   

16 year old Martin Buckland came on for his debut on 65 minutes to replace Wagstaffe and although thrown into a difficult situation, looked composed on the ball and accurate with his passing.   On 70 minutes, following a set piece, the ball fell to Dan Miller, who got to it before the keeper, but his effort as he fell went agonisingly wide of the upright.  

Perhaps to prove it wasn't going to be Sholing's day, Brad Targett appeared to head the ball over the line at the far post before the keeper could claw it out.  The referee looked at his assistant, who said it hadn't gone in.  If that had stood, you would have imagined that Sholing could have battered their way to equalise or even win, but as it was, the final 10 mins saw more frustrating play by the Boatmen and Wantage saw it out to advance into the Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round for the first time in their history.  FT 0-2

Dave Diaper said afterwards : No hiding it, we were poor today, but I have belief in these players and we will look to bounce back on Tuesday. Keep the faith!  Good luck to Wantage in the next round

Next Game :  Sholing v LymingtonTown - Tuesday 7:30pm - Russell Cotes Cup Final - Mackoy Stadium - Adults £5, Concessions £3

Photos courtesy of Ray Routlege (click an image to enlarge)