A last gasp Gosport Borough equaliser denied the Boatmen what would’ve been the perfect homecoming as an entertaining afternoon at the Mortgage Decisions Stadium ended level.
Dan Mason had given Sholing the lead with a well taken finish, before Ben Greenwood levelled for the visitors with a free kick in first half stoppage time. D-Dan then put us back in front with just over twenty minutes to play with a back-post header, before Greenwood got his second of the afternoon with a close range volley at the death.
It was a party atmosphere prior to kick off for the Boatmen, with it being our first game back at the Mortgage Decisions Stadium in 32 days, as well as the Mason’s, Byron & Dan, receiving commendation from CEO Paul Knott for the landmarks they have achieved for Sholing this season (750 apps for Byron, 300 goals for Dan.
The visitors almost crashed the party within the first minute of the game, but the offside flag denied Gosport an ideal start. The Boatmen hit back with a great chance of their own only a few minutes later, but Jake McCarthy’s effort brushed the crossbar on it’s way over.
Sholing remained in the ascendancy and though they had taken the lead when Vinnie Tume headed home from close range from a rebounded Michael Folivi effort, but after consulting with the linesman, who had given the goal, the referee Michael Ryan disallowed the goal for an apparent offside.
Gosport then had a glorious chance of their own in a frantic opening half-hour, but new man between the sticks Dec McCarthy did brilliant to palm away Ethan Taylor’s powerful effort.
In an end-to-end first half, it was Sholing who landed the first punch, with Dan Mason finishing expertly when sent through one on one for goal number 302 in a Sholing shirt.
Just as it looked as though Sholing were going to take the lead into half time, Gosport punched back. Ben Greenwood curling a free kick superbly past McCarthy to level the scores.
The second half started much how the first ended, with chances at both ends. The first of which fell to Vinnie Tume, whose fizzing effort was pushed away well by Gosport stopper Ryan Hall, before McCarthy denied Taylor again, showing brilliant reactions to deny the Boro man.
It was the Boatmen who regained the lead with just over 10 minutes to play, with Dan Mason stooping to head in a cross at the back post to double his tally for the afternoon.
Just as it looked as though the three points were staying in Sholing, Gosport found themselves level in the first of 5 additional minutes at the end of the game, with Ben Greenwood also getting his second of the game, firing home a volley from close range after the ball had fallen to him in the 18 yard box.
There wasn’t to be any further drama as it finished a point a piece in a thoroughly entertaining affair in SO19. Sholing are back next Saturday for their second of three consecutive home fixtures in the Southern Premier South, with Hungerford Town the visitors to the Mortgage Decisions Stadium. Kick off 3pm.