Sholing appeared focused from the moment of entry onto the pitch, donning their yellow and blue away kit and started attacking the goal aside the clubhouse. Despite the home team having kick-off, it did not take long for us to pressure them into mistakes. There were many early presses from the Boatmen, capitalising on the cagey start from Bracknell.
Bracknell had occasional extended periods of possession but could not do anything with it, often unable to escape their own half. They eventually created an off chance but their forward sent it past Pat Nash’s right side. Michael Folivi asserted himself, in what would become a spectacular individual performance, with some trickery down the wing, keeping the opposing defender guessing. In their best chance up to that point, the home team sent a free kick into the side netting but there was a lack of power on the strike.
Benny Read kept the back line tight with some great solo defensive work, forcing the Bracknell forward into giving away a throw-in. Sholing had a great chance after Jake Hesketh delivered a perfect through ball to Reece Wylie, but the defenders stopped anything coming from it. The deadlock was finally broken by Folivi after he slotted underneath the opposition keeper, turning in a precision cross from Joe Rabbets. It wasn’t long until Bracknell were awarded a penalty down the other end and equalised, converting the spot kick as it went in off the post, with Nash diving the right way. Hesketh had a chance to restore the advantage but struggled to get it out of his feet after being swarmed by the opposition. The Boatmen were then awarded a penalty of their own after Folivi was pushed over in the box and he converted to get his and Sholing’s second and the advantage was restored.
In an entertaining side story to Sholing’s dominance, the match official got injured and could not continue, and after a period of uncertainty over the game’s future, a 15-year-old newly qualified official came out of the crowd to take over linesman duties, so the game continued. As a result of the delay the first half had been extended and for the remaining minutes, we continued to be the better team.
HT 1-2
Sholing began the second half as they ended the first, showcasing superiority from behind the halfway line. Hesketh and Dan Mason worked well, drawing a free kick which Bracknell scrambled to get clear.
Bracknell continued to push with all their heart to try and get an equaliser, but the Boatmen were equal to everything. Bradley Targett had his own attempt at glory sending a curling shot towards the far post, but it caused no problems for the man in the home goal.
Michael had his first crack at the match ball sending a powerful strike goal-bound, stinging the hands of the opposing number one. Hesketh continued to lead by example, bending a shot from a tight angle just wide. It was obvious how hard the home team were working to try and give their fans something to shout about after they sent a shot with all the power but no direction.
Folivi finally got his hat trick after he picked up another ball from Rabbets and placed it neatly to the keeper’s left which no one on the home side was getting near. Pat Nash, in the Sholing goal, was holding his end of the deal, stopping multiple efforts from close range. Bracknell started producing some tough tackles, determined to stop the constant barrage, but to no avail, as Michael got his fourth and wrapped the game up after converting a beautiful half volley on the turn and watched happily as it bounced over the line.
As the game entered its last moments, there were numerous chances for us to bag a 5th, the closest coming from a header which sailed inches over the bar. Bracknell tried everything but had to settle for a defeat as Sholing secured a huge three points in an incredible performance.
FT 1-4
Report by James Mclean