Bashley 1-3 Sholing

Scorers : Harvey Slade 37 (pen)  /  Brad Targett 2, Dan Mason 52, Lee Wort 59

Date: Monday 26 December 2022, 1:30pm – Southern League Division 1 South

Venue: Glenmex Stadium  Attendance: 452

Bashley : Ross Casey, Sam Jackson, Sam Davidson, Dan Thompson, Jamie Webber (Lewis Ross 85), Billy Lowes, Bradley Morris © (Craig McAllister 76), Harvey Slade, Harry McGrath (Adam Grange 67), Antonio Diaz, Jack Lovell. Unused subs : Rafa Ramos & Tomasz Gruzewski

Bookings : Jamie Webber, Billy Lowes

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, TJ Cuthbertson, Marv McLean, Rob Flooks (Charlie Wagstaffe 46), Dan Miller, Owen Roundell, Brad Targett (Wayne Robinson 70), Byron Mason ©, Dan Mason, Lee Wort, Sami Makhloufi  (Jake Cope 80).  Unused subs : Josh Batt, Dean Frampton

Bookings :  Rob Flooks, Dan Mason

Man of the Match : Brad Targett

Boatmen got a Boxing Day Bounty of a win at Bashley with a disciplined & clinical performance. Brad Targett's early strike was cancelled out by a penalty, but the deadly duo of Dan Mason & Lee Wort took the game away from the New Milton side in the second half.

Team News : Sholing made one change from our last game, two weeks ago, with Sami replacing Copey. 7th placed Bashley had two former Boatmen in Rafa & Tom Gruzewski on the bench and were giving a debut to Diaz, who has joined them from Salisbury.

Kick off was delayed by 30 minutes as the referee was unable to make it from the IOW due to ferry issues. Wessex Ref, Derek Pratt, kindly stepped in to officiate at short notice.

The sun was out, but the pitch was very heavy and especially squelchy down the flanks of the bottom half of the ground.

For the 11th time this season, we scored inside the first 10 minutes and the 6th time inside the first 5, when BRAD TARGETT controlled a ball down the right flank, beat the left back with ease before cutting into the area and hitting a fierce left foot shot that whistled high into the net for a superb solo goal.

Sami's whipped in freekick towards the near post on 7 mins, was met with a first time effort by D-Dan, but it went past the near post.  Rob Flooks picked up an early yellow card for a trip, before Bashley almost gifted us a second, but Casey was able to save at the second attempt, a deflection off one of his defenders.

Home side had a long shot that was comfortable for Gosney to save as the Boatmen looked unflustered at the back, but we were starting to sit back a bit, allowing Bashley more space in midfield.  Both Targett & TJ were able to put in crosses from the right, the latter falling to Roundell, who skied his effort way over.

Bashley drew level on 37 minutes, Lovell taken down by Rob Flooks, with no argument from the Sholing players as to the penalty award.  Harvey Slade scored with a spotkick down the middle.  HT 1-1

Flooks was replaced for the 2nd half with Charlie Wagstaffe coming on and going into midfield, with Byron dropping back into defence.  We should have scored a minute after the restart, a corner found Dan Miller 6 yards out, but his downward header went wide of the upright.

What worked in the first half, continued to work in the second as Sholing went in front on 52 minutes. Brad Targett beat his man for pace down the right, advanced into the box and fed DAN MASON who spun and hit his shot inside the near post for his 17th goal of the season.

Ryan Gosney was at his best to deny Lovell with a great save and straight from the clearance, we scored our third on 59 mins. Dan Mason turned creator, being freed down the left and squaring for LEE WORT to control and smash the ball in from 12 yards.  Worty's 18th of the season.

Home side fluffed a couple of chances to get back in the game, Slade putting wide from close range and McGrath turning a diving header into a back pass that trickled through to Gos.

Sholing had some nearly moments late in the game, Robinson & Dan Mason going close, but we looked comfortable for the 3 points that was confirmed after 5 minutes of added time.  Our 15th win of the season and at a very difficult place to get a result.   FT 1-3

Marc Diaper : "The lads were fantastic today. A really professional performance against a good Bashley side. We knew if we weren’t at it we’d drop points & the lads attitudes & approach was spot on. Thanks to those that travelled down to support. As always it’s really appreciated”"

Next Game : Sholing v Totton - Monday 2 January 3pm - Southern League