Evesham United 0-2 Sholing

Scorers : Charlie Wagstaffe 55, Lee Wort 75

Date: Saturday 27 August 2022, 3pm – Southern League Division 1 South

Venue: The Spiers & Hartwell Jubilee Stadium

Evesham United : Fraser Barnsley, Adam Mace © Lorcan Sheehan (Luca Smith 85), Charlie Wise, Elliott Keightley (Brennan Denness-Barratt), Owen James (Alfie Dunn 55), Kyle Belmonte, Ben Whitehead, Daniel-Ray Djurovic, Michael O'Reagan, Joshua Aldridge.  Unused subs : Isaac Parry & Josh Nichol

Bookings : Adam Mace, Ben Whitehead

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, Ryan Cluett (Tomasz Gruzewski 80), Brad Targett, Owen Roundell, Dan Miller ©, Rob Flooks, Lee Wort, Robin Nicholls, Dan Mason, Sami Makhloufi (Conor Whiteley 81), Charlie Wagstaffe (Dom Panesar-Dower 75).  Unused subs : Josh Batt, Wayne Robinson

Bookings :

Attendance: 166

Referee : Waqar Ahmed  Assistants : Joshua Drake & Christopher Rose

Man of the Match : Charlie Wagstaffe

Boatmen maintained our 100% start of the season thanks to two second half goals from Charlie Wagstaffe & Lee Wort (of course).

Team News : Diapes had to make his first changes of the season, with Byron out injured and Marv unavailable. Ryan Cluett came in on the right, with Brad Targett switched to the left.  Owen Roundell slotted into defence.  There was the welcome return to the squad of Tomasz Gruzewski after undergoing a close-season operation.

The heat had returned, with the match kicking off in the mid 20's, but on a lush and excellent playing surface. The early pressure came from the home side, but a freekick & a corner inside the first 2 minutes were dealt with by the Boatmen.

We might have taken the lead on 12 minutes when Lee Wort rounded the keeper outside his area and slid the ball towards the empty net, but an Evesham defender just got there in time to put the ball the wrong side of the post.   Game continued to be even with Evesham missing a good chance after Gos couldn't keep hold of a high ball into the box, but when it dropped, the home player skied it over the bar.

Evesham, under vocal encouragement from their manager, Mike Ford (former Oxford Utd manager) to play the ball out from the keeper, were starting to get into trouble doing it as Sholing closed them down.  On 30 mins, Sami Makhloufi was presented with the ball after good work by Nicholls, but his shot was beaten away by Fraser Barnsley.

The home side should have scored on 33 minutes, when a freekick on the right picked out an Evesham player with a free header in the 6 yard box, but he planted it straight at Gosney.  From this point on, Sholing upped their game, with Dan Mason racing down the right channel, but his powerful shot went wide of the near post.  Lee Wort showed great close control to twist and turn inside the box, but his two efforts were blocked.

Brad Targett skinned three Evesham players with a storming run down the left, but sadly his cross into the middle evaded everyone.  There was a curious moment as it looked as though the Evesham keeper took a quick goal kick, played the ball to his defender who was under pressure inside the area. He picked up the ball and placed it back on the 6 yard line.  One of those moments where it seemed to take everyone by surprise, including the Ref, who ignored the loud appeals from Sholing and let the game continue.

Sholing won a freekick just outside the box, Brad Targett dummied taking a shot and instead played in Sami, whose shot towards the near post was well saved.   HT 0-0

Boatmen appeared to go up a gear after the restart and were to go on and dominate the second half.  The breakthrough came on 55 minutes. A freekick out by the left corner flag was played into the box by Ryan Cluett, cleared by Evesham only as far as CHARLIE WAGSTAFFE just outside the area, who drilled a low shot through the crowd of players and in for his first goal of the season.

Dan Mason showed excellent chest control to bring down the ball and in one motion turn past his marker, but his shot was saved by the keeper.   D-Dan, on 249 goals for the club, looked to be in when Cluett lifted the ball nicely into his path, but Dan's first time effort as the ball dropped over his shoulder went across the goal and wide.

The Boatmen defence were tidying up all that Evesham had as an attacking threat, with Owen Roundell playing well and Rob Flooks showing what an excellent addition to the team he is.  Captain Miller was he usual towering presence.

On 75 mins, Sholing doubled our lead when Robin Nicholls fierce 18 yard shot was parried by the keeper, but only to LEE WORT who swept in the rebound from 8 yards for his 6th goal in 4 games.  Worty ran to the Sholing dugout and held up a shirt with "RIP L.C." on it. Dedicating the goal to 14 year old Layton Cashmore, who tragically lost his life recently in an accident.

Diapes made three changes, bringing off Sami, Wags & Cluett, with Dom Panesar-Dower, Conor Whiteley & Tomasz Gruzewski coming on in their place for the final 10 mins.

Ryan Gosney had mostly been a spectator for the second half, but on 84 minutes, pulled off a spectacular save when a well struck shot seemed to be heading for the top corner, but Gos at full stretch tipped it round the post.

Despite 6 minutes of added time, the game petered out and Sholing picked up a deserved win at a difficult place to visit.  No rest for the lads as tomorrow we have the big local derby at Totton.  FT 0-2

Next Game : AFC Totton v Sholing - Bank Holiday Monday 29 August 3pm - Southern League

Photo Gallery, swipe to view pics :