Sholing 6-0 Fawley AFC

Scorers : Sami Makhloufi 14, Dan Mason 52 & 61, Brad Targett 54, Wayne Robinson 75, Charlie Wagstaffe 79

Date: Thursday 5 January 2023, 7:45pm – Southampton Senior Cup 3rd Round

Venue:  Imperial Homes Stadium  Attendance: 64

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, TJ Cuthbertson (Josh Batt 59), Marv McLean (Dean Frampton 60), Rob Flooks, Dan Miller, Leon Baker-Neto (Charlie Wagstaffe 54), Brad Targett, Byron Mason © (Owen Roundell 36) , Dan Mason, Sami Makhloufi, Jake Cope (Wayne Robinson 46). 

Bookings :

Fawley AFC : Lee Burch, Will Hammerton, Sam Clark, Tom Doncom, Liam Webber, Jacob Sheath, Nathan Watkins (James Elkins 65), Freddie Molyneux (Matt Page 63), Jack Stuttard, Dec Hartigan © (Josh Munro 59), Indi Elezi (Matt Hawkins 73).  Sub not used : Oskar Polaczyk

Bookings :

Man of the Match : TJ Cuthbertson

Sholing scored 6 past Wessex Division 1 side, Fawley, to advance in the Southampton Senior Cup

Team News : It was as strong a squad as Dave Diaper could assemble and included the new signing of Leon Baker-Neto, an 18 year old central midfielder, on loan for the rest of the season from National League South, Havant & Waterlooville.  With only one game played in the last 4 weeks, it was important for the first team to get a run out.  TJ Cuthbertson was making his 250th appearance for the club, a fantastic & popular player for us over 3 spells since 2014.

The pitch passed an inspection, on a night that started out quite mild, but a strong wind and driving rain would make it a lot more chilly by the second half.  Boatmen were to dominate possession and chances in the first half, with Rob Flooks & Dan Mason going close inside the first 5 minutes and we took the lead 14 minutes in. 

TJ made the overlap and put in a low cross into the 6 yard box that was steered past the keeper by SAMI MAKHLOUFI.  On the other flank, both Marv & Jakey had efforts go narrowly wide as the play was predominately in the Fawley half.

However, the "Oilers" started to create more the longer the half went on and had a couple of chances to score.  After a good build up down the left, a long shot whistled over the bar.  Then a better chance went begging when a shot in space on the right side of the area, found the side netting.   HT 1-0

Boatmen doubled our lead on 52 minutes, with a typical superb finish by DAN MASON.  A press on the Fawley defence saw the ball won and D-Dan showed great awareness to spot the keeper off his line and hit a controlled shot over him from near 25 yards out.

Within a minute of the restart, it was 3-0, BRAD TARGETT hit a fierce shot from the edge of the box that Burch pushed out, with the ball falling back to Brad to volley in with his left foot from 12 yards.  Fawley were to hit the bar soon after, the wind caught a ball that looked to be going over and it glanced off the woodwork and Gosney tidied up.

Wayne Robinson was denied by a good save on 61 minutes, but the rebound fell into the path of DAN MASON who off-balance, knocked it in for his 19th of the season, which moves him one ahead of striker partner Lee Wort.

Dan turned provider on 75 mins, his perfectly weighted headed flick-on from a Gosney kick out, found WAYNE ROBINSON to control, beat the last man and lift the ball past the advancing keeper.

The scoring was completed on 79 mins when Josh Batt's through ball found CHARLIE WAGSTAFFE breaking clean through, he rounded the keeper and did well to score from a tight angle. Josh Batt then had a cross caught in the swirling wind, that smacked the ball off the crossbar with the keeper beaten.

To their credit, Fawley kept on until the final whistle, but the 2 division gap in quality was pretty evident. It was another clean sheet for Ryan Gosney, his 140th for the club. Sholing will face at home, either Folland Sports or Bashley in the quarter final.  FT 6-0

Dave Diaper : "Really pleased with a professional performance from the boys. It gave us a good run out against a side who were well organised.  This wet weather is frustrating and training isn't the same as a competitive environment, so this was a handy 90 minutes for the lads"

Next Game : Sholing v Evesham United - Saturday 7 January 3pm - Southern League

Photos courtesy of EspieJaz, swipe to view pics :