Sholing 2-0 Winchester City

Scorers : Brad Targett 57, Jake Cope 68

Date: Monday 31 August 2021, 3pm – Pitching In Southern League South Division One

Venue:  Mackoy Stadium

Sholing: Ryan Gosney, Ryan Cluett, Brad Targett, Yumo Wan (Dan Miller 57), Mitch Byrne, Joe Adams, Conor Whiteley, Rob Nicholls ©, Dan Mason, Stu Green, Jake Cope.  Unused subs : Charlie Wagstaffe, Jack Barnes, Martin Buckland & Luke Deacon

Yellow Card : Brad Targett, Jake Cope

Winchester City: Charlie Philpott, Joshua McCormick, Daniel King, Ollie Griggs (Greg Peel 70), Joe Hayward, Kieran Douglas, Alex Haynes (Dan Bradshaw 67), Jamie Barron, Oliver Bailey, Oliver Balmer, Adam Grange (Simbarashe Mlambo 67).  Unused subs : Conall Bark & Max Smith

Yellow Card:

Referee: Sean Phillips   Assistants : Derek Pratt & Justyn Leonard

Attendance: 340

Clarke Willmott Solicitors, Man of the Match :  Brad Targett

Sholing made it a successful holiday weekend gaining 6 points out of 6 with a local derby win over Winchester City.  A big crowd saw the Boatmen up their game in the second half to break the deadlock via a thumping header by Brad Targett and then make the win secure with Jake Cope scoring his first goal for the club.

Once again, injury made Byron Mason sit the game out and also unavailable were Marv McLean & Claudio Herbert.  Dan Miller was named on the bench as he raced to make the game from a prior committment.  It meant a back four with an average age of just 19, with Brad filling in at left back as Yumo Wan partnered Mitch Byrne in the middle with Ryan Cluett at right back.  Jake Cope also came back into the starting line-up with Rob Nicholls wearing the Captains armband for the first time.

It was an overcast and slightly chilly afternoon for the big crowd as the game got underway and the Boatmen had a half chance straight away as the Winchester defender misjudged the flight of the ball allowing it to drop behind him for Dan Mason to try a first time lob over the keeper, but it went wide.  The game was competitive & physical, as you would expect from two nearby clubs, but quite scrappy with the ball a hot potato.  Jake Cope picked up a yellow card for seemingly very little on 20 mins, whereas a couple of late challenges by the visitors went unpunished.

On 25 mins a Winch player was sent clean through, but his heavy touch saw him over-run the ball as Gosney came out and it went straight out for a goalkick.  Stu Green took on the centre half for pace and beat him as he sped into the box, but his cut back couldn't find a Sholing player.  On 32 mins, following a corner Winchester were playing pinball in the Boatmen penalty area, with the ball pinging around between defenders and strikers, with Gosney making a great stop with his legs before pouncing on the rebound in the middle of the chaos.  

Stu Green left his marker in his wake, but once again, his teammates couldn't keep up with him to tap-in the ball he put on a plate in the 6 yard box.  Brad Targett was looking assured at left back, winning some headers, but also impressed with a last ditch tackle.  Just before half time and Joe Adams twisted and turned to get to the byline on the right, but his cross was claimed by the keeper. Soon after the ball fell to D-Dan in the area, but on the stretch, he poked it over the bar.  Winchester had the best chance of the half in added time, but Barron was denied by a great low save by Gosney. Overall, a scrappy first 45 and you felt that both sides could play much better.  HT 0-0

Sholing started the second half with more intensity than the first and were getting the midfield more involved as they looked to stretch Winchester.  Stu Green was seeing a lot of the ball with his energetic runs and after being set up by Dan Mason, Greener shinned it wide.   The momentum was building for the Boatmen and after forcing a corner on 57 mins, they took the lead.  Ryan Cluett's pinpoint delivery was met at on the edge of the 6 yard box by BRAD TARGETT with a thumping downward header to give the keeper no chance.  Brad celebrated his second goal of the weekend with an impressive somersault before being mobbed by his teammates.

Dan Miller replaced Yumo Wan straight after the goal.  No slight on Yumo, with the 17 year old having done superb at centre back both Saturday and today.  Winchester had a chance to level but hit their shot straight at Gosney.  Boatmen were playing the ball around at pace and it unlocked the visitors defence on 68 mins for the second goal.  Robin Nicholls hit a first time floated ball into the left channel for JAKE COPE to run onto and his low shot across the keeper was perfectly placed to go just inside the far post for his first goal for the Boatmen.

Boatmen were enjoying themselves now and a lovely backheel flick by Conor Whiteley sent Joe Adams through on goal, but his shot was straight at Philpott in the Winchester goal.  Then Stu Green tried an opportunistic quick freekick from just inside the Winch half, having spotted the keeper off his line, but the ball floated narrowly over the crossbar.  Joe Adams continued to catch the eye with his control and ability to glide past players and he set up Conor Whiteley with his shot striking a Winch defender with a loud appeal of handball, but we never get those.   Joe once again twisted Winchester players blood on the edge of the box, but his eventual effort was blocked.   The visitors had a late chance for a consolation, but it summed up their day when a shot in a good position was of more harm to those living in Thornhill Estate than Gosney in goal.

Sholing got their reward for dominating the second half with some attractive football.  Some excellent performances all round, with Brad Targett deservely picking up the Man of the Match award from sponsors Clarke Willmott.  Boatmen can now focus on Saturday's FA Cup tie.  FT 2-0

Next Game :  Alton v Sholing - FA Cup - Saturday 4 Sep 3pm

Photos courtesy of HR Media (swipe to view pics)

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