Sholing 3-2 Bristol Manor Farm

Scorers : Lee Wort 3, 90+5, Jake Cope 42  / Marcus Day 18, 28

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

Venue:  Imperial Homes Stadium

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, Marv McLean (Wayne Robinson 68), Jake Cope, Rob Flooks, Dan Miller, Owen Roundell, Lee Wort, Byron Mason ©, Dan Mason, Sami Makhloufi, Charlie Wagstaffe (Rob Nicholls 41).  Unused subs : Josh Batt, Ryan Cluett, Tomasz Gruzewski

Bookings : Lee Wort
Red Card : Rob Flooks

Bristol Manor Farm : Ben John, Mason Winter, Aron Robbins ©, Joshua Ford, Steve Kingdon, Harry Lucas, Jake Gosling, Marcus Day, Owen Howe, Evandar Grubb (Kye Simpson 63), Jayden Nielsen (Ben Bament 83)  Unused subs : Lloyd Mills, Michael Bryant, Theo Llewllyn

Bookings : Mason Winter, Steve Kingdon, Owen Howe

Attendance: 141

Referee : Paul Barber  Assistants : Steve Fall & Michael Hurdle

Gareth & Alan Stephenson Man of the Match : Dan Miller

Lee Wort hit a 95th minute winner as the 10 men of Sholing came from behind to keep our 100% record going in the most dramatic of circumstances.

Team News : Sholing's starting line-up was unchanged from Tuesday. Rob Nicholls returned to the bench, but Stu Green & Brad Targett missed out through injury.  Bristol Manor Farm were in the bottom three before kick-off, but a false position for a club who made the play-offs last season and who still have a very strong squad.

It was a warm & sunny afternoon at the Imperial Homes Stadium, although there was a brisk breeze across the pitch.  Boatmen got off to the best possible start, scoring with our first attack on 3 minutes when Charlie Wagstaffe intecepted a pass, fed Sami Makhloufi, who threaded the ball to send LEE WORT clear and from the edge of the box, he coolly rolled the ball past the exposed keeper.  It ended Worty's goal drought that stretched back all of one game!

We had the lead, but spent the next 25 minutes pinned back in our own half as Manor Farm played some incisive passing football and created several chances to score. Dan Miller headed away near the line and 2 minutes later, had to use his long legs to stretch and clear away another effort that had beaten Gosney.

Boatmen were sloppy in possession and struggling in midfield as the visitors cut through us.  So, it was no surprise when Bristol equalised in the 18th minute. Marcus Day was allowed to run with the ball from near the half way line to the edge of the box where he hit a curling effort into the far bottom corner.

10 minutes later and it was deja-vu as this time, Gosling was allowed to speed through midfield unchallenged and he laid it off to Marcus Day who found the bottom corner again with a well struck shot.

It got worse for Sholing on 35 mins. A freekick deep in our half was about to be taken by Rob Flooks, but a Manor Farm player was stood in front of the ball and wouldn't move.  Flooksy was in his back swing as Howe prodded the ball away and Rob made contact with him. Howe rolled around on the floor and the away bench made enough noise to convince the referee it was a red card offence for Flooks.

Dave Diaper then brought on Rob Nicholls to help plug the gaps in midfield and the previously flat looking Sholing, were now fired up after the sending off and grabbed the equaliser just before half time.  Rob Nicholls put a lovely ball down the channel for Marv on the overlap and his ball into the box was cleared as far as JAKE COPE who steered his left foot shot beyond the scrambling keeper and just inside the post to make it 3 goals in as many games.  HT 2-2

Despite being a man down, the Boatmen looked a different side to the one in the first half and would go on and dominate the second half, going close numerous times.

On 55 minutes, Manor Farm twice hacked efforts off their own goal line.  Firstly Dan Miller's nod back from a corner was hooked over over his shoulder by Dan Mason, but cleared on the line.  The ball was recycled and fell to Byron Mason just inside the box who hit a fierce shot though a crowd of players, but again a man on the line did his job well.

Then Lee Wort cut inside his marker to curl an effort that beat the keeper but smacked off the bar and away.  Wayne Robinson had come on and was immediately into the action, getting in behind the back line, but the keeper did well to save with his legs.   Wayne was impressing with his pace and direct play down the right and he stung the hands of Ben John, who could only beat away his powerful effort.

It was Jake Cope's turn to show good pace and skill to get into the box and fire a shot across the keeper and it looked to be going in, but it hit the inside of the post and somehow came back out!  Wayne Robinson raced into the right channel and was taken down in full flow by a terrible challenge on 88 minutes that maybe warranted more than the yellow card it received.

Manor Farm were looking leggy as the game reached 90 minutes, but Sholing were still full of energy and determined to get a winner.  Lee Wort hit a left foot volley that whistled just over, before we hit the woodwork for the third time in the half 3 mins into added time.  A corner found Byron Mason climbing highest to head goalwards, but his effort was fingertipped onto the crossbar by Ben John. 

Manor Farm had their chance to win it on 94 mins when a free header from 8 yards was directed straight at Gosney with the whole goal to aim at.  Instead it would be Sholing who took the three points! Rob Nicholls won a header for Charlie Wagstaffe to swap passes with Dan Mason and Wag's ball through the defence found  LEE WORT who timed his run to perfection to get inbetween the defender and the advancing keeper to check inside and lift his effort from 18 yards over the keeper, the man on the line headed it onto the underside of the crossbar, but the ball finally went the right side and hit the inside of the net and over the line!  It sparked wild scenes as the dugout emptied and Worty was buried under a pile of bodies. His 12th goal in 8 games this season.

An incredible finish to a game that will live long in the memory. Boatmen showed amazing character and belief to not only get the winner, but create so many chances against a good team, despite being a man down for an hour. FT 3-2

Dave Diaper : "Mixed emotions today in our 3-2 win over Bristol Manor Farm. We were outplayed in the first half by a good side going from 1-0 up to 1-2 down then down to 10 men after 35 minutes. A lesser side would have crumbled, but I thought we were excellent in 2nd half and showed true grit and determination. Great game!"

Marc Diaper : "I thought about knocking it on the head the last few months with loads going on outside of football, but today is why I still do it. Lads were as bad as I’ve ever seen for 25 mins and then with 10 men were class coming from behind to get 3 points against a very decent team"

Marv McLean : "The boys were top notch in the 2nd half and another 3 points. D-Dan & Worty were top class as usual. Man of the Match, easily Dan Mason.  Onto the next one!"

Next Game : Westbury United v Sholing - Saturday 8 October 3pm - Southern League

Photos courtesy of EspieJaz, swipe to view pics :

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