Paulton Rovers 1-0 Sholing

Scorers : Butcher 72

Date: Wednesday 30th March 2022, 7:30pm – Southern League South Division 1

Venue:  First4Pools Stadium

Paulton Rovers: Aaron Sainsbury, James Byrne, Nuno Felix, Neil Martin ©, Josiah Dunstan, Alfie Clarke, Will Harvey, Liban Ibrahim (Leo Eglin 93), Leighton Thomas, Jack Ball (Daniel Dempsey 73), Edward Butcher (Leo Tuodolo 78)  Unused Subs: Kyle Anderson, Kai Williamson.

Yellow Cards:

Sholing: Luke Deacon, Josh Batt, Dean Frampton, Robin Nicholls, Dan Miller, Charlie Wagstaffe, Ryan Cluett, Byron Mason ©, Dan Mason, Fatah Makhloufi (Liam Dummett 92), Nathan Gray (Jack Mann 74) Unused Subs: Lochlan Colquhoun, Martin Buckland, Mackenzie Hare.

Yellow Cards: Jack Mann 96

Referee:   Samuel Read  Assistants: Adam Gregory & Rory Peacey

Attendance: 85

Another Sholing milestone was reached with Dan Miller making his 400th appearance. However, it wasn’t to be a winning night as Sholing slipped to their 4th defeat in the last 6 matches. The defeat was harder to take with the only goal taking a wicked deflection to put the ball past a stranded Luke Deacon.

Team News: Following Saturday’s win Dave Diaper once again was unable to field the same side with Owen Roundell, Marvin McLean, Conor Whiteley not available & Tomasz Gruzewski on England U18 duty. Injuries to Ryan Gosney, Stuart Green, Fawzi Saadi, Brad Targett & Jake Cope meant there was call ups for Dean Frampton & Luke Deacon both making their full debuts. Josh Batt returned to the starting 11 & there was a recall for Nathan Gray. Liam Dummett kept his place on the bench & Martin Buckland & Jack Mann filled the youthful bench. This was probably the youngest side Dave Diaper has fielded in his 23-year tenure at Sholing.

Going into this match both sides were still had an outside chance of reaching a promotion play-off spot, upon arriving at Paulton the heavens opened, and the match started in the pouring rain with the sparse crowd seeking shelter. Paulton had the best of the opening chances and Jack Ball’s shot didn’t trouble Luke Deacon in the Sholing goal. Byron Mason had Sholing’s first effort but didn’t find the target. Sholing maintained their pressure and striker Dan Mason fired his shot wide of Sainsbury’s goal.

Nuno Felix found Ed Butcher down the left but his shot from 20 yds cleared Deacon’s bar with the Sholing keeper untroubled by his effort. On 28 minutes Dan Mason sent Nathan Gray down the left wing beating the Paulton defence but his shot was comfortable for Aaron Sainsbury in the Rovers goal. Ryan Cluett & Nathan Gray were catching the Rovers defence flat footed with their pace but the chances being created couldn’t be turned into goals.

Sholing won another corner and from Cluett’s kick he found Charlie Wagstaffe whose shot come cross was deflected onto the crossbar, the ball fell into the path of Dan Mason, but his effort was deflected away for another corner.

Dan Mason took a hefty challenge which went unpunished and the Sholing striker received several minutes treatment before being able to continue. As the game approached half time from Ryan Cluett's through ball he put the ball into the path of Nathan Gray, but the striker rushed his effort and miss kicked the ball with only Sainsbury to beat. HT: 0-0

The 2nd half continued in a similar vain to the 1st half. Luke Deacon was the busier of the two keepers in the opening 15 minutes and denied efforts from Leighton Thomas, Liban Ibrahim & Will Harvey. Ryan Cluett was getting space down the right, but we were not getting the rub of the green with the 2nd ball as all the 50/50’s were falling to Paulton Rovers frustrating the Sholing attacks.

The deadlock was broken on 72 minutes it was route one as Aaron Sainsbury’s kick found the lively Ed Butcher on the left, he cut inside hit a firm low shot which appeared to be going wide.  Luke Deacon dived to cover it, but the shot deflected off Josh Batt and found its way into the Sholing goal to give Paulton the lead.

There was late drama as Dan Mason was found on the right who picked out Josh Batt who appeared to make amends and score the equaliser but the referees assistant adjudged Dan Mason to be offside when he received the ball. The last kick of the match saw Jack Mann cautioned then the referee blew his whistle to frustrate the Boatmen. FT 1-0

Photos courtesy of EspieJaz (swipe to view pics)