AFC Totton 0-1 Sholing

Scorers : Lee Wort 67

Date: Monday 29 August 2022, 3pm – Southern League Division 1 South

Venue: The Snows Stadium

AFC Totton : Lewis Noice, Emmanuel Odubade (Jake Adams 63), Adam Tomasso (Brett Williams 90), Mike Carter ©, Charlie Kennedy, Luke Hallett, Jordan Ragguette, Jack Masterton (Frederick Read 57),  Jireh Oyebamiji, Scott Rendell, Ethan Taylor.  Unused subs : Michael Green & Pascal Kpohomouh

Bookings :

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, Brad Targett, Marv McLean, Rob Flooks, Dan Miller, Rob Nicholls, Lee Wort, Byron Mason © (Owen Roundell 16 (Josh Batt 50)), Dan Mason, Sami Makhloufi, Charlie Wagstaffe.  Unused subs : Ryan Cluett, Conor Whiteley, Dom Panesar-Dower

Bookings : Ryan Gosney, Brad Targett, Marv McLean, Rob Flooks, Charlie Wagstaffe

Attendance: 913 (My estimate, 450-500)

Referee : Benjamin Duffill  Assistants : Lee Nowacki & Thomas Farr

Man of the Match : Rob Flooks

Lee Wort continued his incredible goalscoring start to the season, grabbing the only goal as once again, Sholing won the Southampton Derby with a gutsy performance.

Team News : Dave Diaper named his strongest line-up, although there were concerns about several players who were carrying knocks.  Brad Targett was making his 150th appearance for the Boatmen. Doesn't seem two minutes since the 16 year old Brad made his debut! AFC Totton had two former Sholing FA Vase winners involved, Mike Carter the Stags captain and Lewis Fennemore, an assistant to Jimmy Ball. 

Was a decent bank holiday crowd for the local derby as the two teams entered the perfect looking pitch.  Was a spectacular first effort on goal inside the first minute, when Lee Wort connected well with an overhead kick, but there were enough bodies between him and the goal to see the ball cleared.

Marv showed he's always decent with both feet by putting over a lovely right foot cross that skimmed off the head of D-Dan, taking the ball just out of reach of the arriving Wort.   Totton's first attempt at goal saw the lively Oyebamiji create room on the right, but he flashed his shot across Gos and wide.

Gosney pulled off a great save on 14 mins when Ethan Taylor teed up a volley for himself that Gos got down to his left to save and then quickly got up to gather the loose ball.   Was a big blow to Sholing on 16 mins when Skipper, Byron Mason, had to come off injured, with Owen Roundell taking his place.

Dan Mason had an angled shot from the right, well saved by the outstretched foot of Noice.  He would make a similar save from Brad Targett just before half time. Between then, the former Football league & National league striker, Scott Rendell hit a scissor kick effort into the ground, but it bounced up for Gos to make a comfortable save.   Totton had the more possession and forced more corners in the first 45, but there was little in the way of danger for the Sholing defence.  HT 0-0

The sub had to be subbed 5 minutes into the restart, with Owen Roundell going down holding his thigh. Josh Batt came on for Sholing's second enforced change in the backline.  Rob Flooks rose highest to head a Sami freekick just wide of the upright. Dan Miller made an excellent interception as Totton pushed forward and the home side were to go the closest they were to get to scoring on 62 mins. Ragguette showed his pace down the left to cut in and unleash a 20 yard shot that clipped the top of the crossbar.

Sholing were to pick up 5 yellow cards in the game and it was a bit strange how Kennedy went through the back of Dan Mason near the half way line under the nose of the referee, who didn't even give the Totton defender a talking to.

Released by Totton last season, Rob Flooks was having a great game and showed surprising pace to beat Oyebamiji in a foot race to clear the ball.

The crucial moment of the game came on 67 minutes when Sami Makhloufi made it 5 assists in 5 games with another perfectly weighted through ball to LEE WORT, who's first touch set the ball nicely in front of him to slot past the right hand of the Totton keeper to send the Boatmen fans & bench wild. 7 goals already for "Boozer" this season!

The expected rally and use of the kitchen sink by the home side in front of their own supporters, never really came.  Totton had some half chances, but shots were either off target or blocked by the Sholing players putting their bodies on the line.  

In fact, Sholing twice went close to extending our lead.  Marv McLean drove to the byline inside the area and his ball into the 6 yard box was hacked away near the line.   Boatmen should have had a penalty when Dan Mason turned his marker inside out, who then almost pulled the shorts off the striker, but D-Dan being the player he is, didn't go to the ground screaming, instead trying to score and he was closed down with the Referee unmoved about the obvious foul on him.

Gosney had a bit of catching practice to do in added time, but there weren't any major dramas for the hardworking Sholing team.  The quiet Totton support made their most noise all game, jeering Gosney for receiving a yellow card. Something the Sholing keeper won't lose a second's sleep over.

The final whistle blew 6 mins into the 4 added as the Boatmen maintained our 100% start to the season.  There were restrained celebrations by the team, but grateful applause to the Sholing fans who made the trip across town and got behind the team in a positive fashion.  Likewise, the fans know it's still very early days in this season, but there's nothing wrong in enjoying a(nother) win against your nearest rivals.   FT 0-1

Byron Mason : "6 points on a Bank Holiday weekend and 2 clean sheets away from home isn't bad at all!"

Barry Mason : "Big team performance today with big players getting injured early on and lads playing with knocks, so to come away with the big W very proud & we go again"

Next Game : Slimbridge v Sholing - Saturday 3 September 3pm - FA Cup

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