Sholing 3-2 Frome Town

Scorers : Wayne Robinson 41, Dan Mason 63 (pen), Jake Cope 69  /  Laurent Davis-Wilson 28, Jamie Adams 44 (pen)

Date: Saturday 15 October 2022, 3pm – Southern League Division 1 South

Venue:  Imperial Homes Stadium  Attendance: 233

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, Brad Targett (Conor Whiteley 78), Marv McLean, TJ Cuthbertson, Dan Miller, Owen Roundell, Lee Wort (Wayne Robinson 32), Byron Mason ©, Dan Mason, Sami Makhloufi (Jake Cope 55), Charlie Wagstaffe.  Unused subs : Josh Batt, Ryan Cluett

Bookings : Owen Roundell, Charlie Wagstaffe

Frome Town : Kyle Phillips, Ben Withey, Callum Evans (Jack Witcombe 65), Alexander Hallett, Jamie Adams, Ben Starr, Alexander Monks, Laurent Davis-Wilson (Luke Hopper 65), James Ollis, Owen Humphries, Warren Maidment©.  Unused subs : Lucas Schwalbe-Goodwin, Conrad Essilfie-Conduah, Thomas Roberts

Bookings : Jamie Adams, Owen Humphries

Motorvait Man of the Match : Brad Targett

Boatmen were involved in our third 3-2 scoreline in a row as we came from behind to claim a big 3 points over promotion rivals, Frome Town

Team News : Was a surprise inclusion in the Sholing starting line-up, with the return of TJ Cuthbertson!  TJ has been away from competitive football for almost 2 seasons, but after training with the team for almost a month and then playing for the U23's on Thursday, he was back to make his 238th appearance for Sholing.   Rob Nicholls missed out through injury, but Brad Targett made his first start for 5 weeks.

There was a gusty wind blowing across the pitch, but thankfully the rain stayed just to the north of the Imperial Homes Stadium as 1st place hosted the 3rd place team.   Was a bright start by Sholing, with twice Brad Targett getting released down the right wing and cross into the box, but both times his ball in evaded team-mates.  Sami Makhloufi had a decent chance as the ball dropped to him in the middle of the area, but his volley went wide.

On 13 mins, every Boatmen fan was expecting the net to bulge after Lee Wort went clear, but the keeper did well to dive to his left to deny the league's leading goalscorer. Frome then grew stronger and were starting to dominate the midfield battle.  A penalty appeal was denied, with Humphries going into the book for arguing with the ref.

On 28 minutes, the visitors took the lead.  A neatly worked one-two between Laurent Davis-Wilson & Owen Humphries inside the area, saw the tall striker get enough on his shot to force the ball under the dive of Gosney.

Was another blow to Sholing immediately after, as Lee Wort went down for the second time and had to be sustituted. Wayne Robinson came on in his place.  Frome remained on top, with the movement of their front two causing us problems.

Sholing were struggling to get our wing-backs involved, but out of nothing, we equalised on 41 minutes.  It was a repeat of what almost worked in the opening exchanges, as Brad Targett sped down the right and into the box with his cut-back being met by Marv McLean and then falling to WAYNE ROBINSON on the edge of the 6 yard box to slot home his first senior goal for the club.

Boatmen went looking for another goal, but ended up conceding one from our own attack. A freekick to Sholing was cleared into midfield, where Frome won the ball and quickly broke forward, 4 players against 2. Humphries was played into the box and as he tried to cut back inside, the ref said he was tripped and pointed to the spot. Jamie Adams blasted the penalty down the middle as Frome went into half time ahead.  HT 1-2

Frome continued to look comfortable in possession as the opening of the second half passed without much action in either box.  On 55 mins, Jake Cope came on for Sami and the Sholing fan stood next to me, quipped, "With Cope, there's Hope"... he wasn't wrong!

Took Copey just a couple of minutes to force Phillips into a full length save as his measured shot was tipped round the far post.  Wayne Robinson was causing the Frome defence problems with his pace and direct play and on the hour mark, he controlled well before hitting a fierce shot that stung the hands of the keeper.

Boatmen looked much like our usual selves going forward and on 62 mins, we were finally awarded our first penalty of the season.  Marv's first run into the box was halted, but as he recovered the ball and was heading out of the area, a clumsy challenge from behind saw the penalty given.  DAN MASON took his time and sent the keeper the wrong way for his 9th goal of the season.

D-Dan was being the focal point of our attacks and despite being on his sick-bed most of the week, was strongly holding up the ball and on 67 mins, showed great awareness to spot the run of Cope and lift the ball over his shoulder into the path of Jake, who went clean through, but once again, Phillips did well to deny a 1-on-1.

That miss was soon forgotten as with our next attack, we took the lead!  TJ released Wayne Robinson down the right channel and his low ball into the box found Dan Mason who held up the ball and tapped it off to the arriving JAKE COPE who prodded the ball first time into the bottom corner before speeding off to celebrate in front of the delighted Sholing bench.

Conor Whiteley came on and almost extended our lead with his first touch. He went for placement over power from close range and the keeper got his leg in the way with the ball spinning up slowly and agonisingly dropped just over the bar.

The final 10 minutes were to be the Ryan Gosney show, as our keeper pulled off two world class saves to ensure we got the win.  Firstly, a 22 yard freekick outside the area, saw Humphries beat the wall and the ball seem destined for the top right corner, but Gos went full length to claw the ball out and past the post.

Then, in added time, Gosney made a save that almost defies explanation (I will have to wait for the video of the game to better understand how he did it). The ball broke for Maidment about 10 yards out and his shot looked to have secured the visitors a point, but Gosney flung himself from what looked an impossible distance away, to make the save and in a rare show of emotion from him, celebrated it like a last minute winner, which it was.

Boatmen claimed the three points and stay top of the league after another breathless game. It's never dull watching the Sholing!   FT 3-2

Dave Diaper : "Well that game wasn’t for the feint hearted!  Really proud of the boys and in the way we turned the game around in the 2nd half. To a man we showed the togetherness of the squad and the desire not to get beat against a quality Frome Town Side, who played their part in a great game"

Byron Mason : "These last 3 league games have been mad! A proper rollercoaster! I guess that’s why we love and hate the sport. Good shift from the boys to pull it around"

Next Game : Sholing v Stockbridge - Tuesday 18 October 7:45pm - Russell Cotes Cup

Photos courtesy of EspieJaz, swipe to view pics :

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