Sholing 4-1 Bishops Cleeve
Scorers : Dan Mason 43, Byron Mason 45+2, Rob Flooks 48, Lee Wort 63 / George Box 29
Date: Saturday 21 January 2023, 3pm – Southern League Division 1 South
Venue: Imperial Homes Stadium Attendance: 159
Sholing : Ryan Gosney, TJ Cuthbertson, Marv McLean, Rob Flooks, Dan Miller, Leon Baker, Brad Targett, Byron Mason © (Charlie Wagstaffe 74), Dan Mason (Jake Cope 79), Lee Wort, Sami Makhloufi (Wayne Robinson 71). Unused subs : Josh Batt, Dean Frampton
Bookings : Dan Mason Red Card : Brad Targett
Bishops Cleeve : Lewis Clayton, Jack Holmes, Will Turner, Sam Blackie, Linden Dovey, Will Taylor (Leroy Odiero 71) Blaine Waugh, Archie Haskayne ©, George Box, Ross Longworthy (Kevin Slack 88), Harrison Reeves (Joseph Selman 63). Unused subs : Jake Parrott & Ed Ward
Bookings : Will Turner, Ross Longworthy, Harrison Reeves Red Card : Jack Holmes
Man of the Match : Leon Baker
Sholing's never say die spirit was never more evident than in this game. A goal and a man down after 39 minutes, the Boatmen fought back to score 4 goals with 10 men and extend our lead at the top.
Team News : Leon Baker made his league debut with Owen Roundell unavailable. It was Marv McLean's 750th appearance for the Boatmen. We almost take these incredible landmarks for granted now at this unique club of ours! Bishops Cleeve arrived on the back of 4 consecutive wins, including a very impressive 4-0 victory at Bashley recently.
The groundstaff & volunteers had worked miracles to get the pitch fit for play after the recent floods and hard frosts. We were desperate to get the game on, having not played in the league since Boxing Day and the hard work was rewarded.
Brad Targett had a shot go wide of the near post and then he was inches away from meeting Leon Baker's cross into the 6 yard box as Sholing made an ok start, but we still looked pretty rusty (unsurprisingly) and Bishops Cleeve were better at retaining possession and creating chances as the half went on.
On 20 minutes George Box flashed a shot across Gosney and narrowly wide of the far post. The visitors then linked up well down the right, with the cross into the box, just evading a striker. So, was little surprise when 'Cleeve took the lead on 29 minutes. A whipped in cross from the left side of the area was nodded down by George Box into the bottom corner.
It should have been 2 for Cleeve on 35 mins, when a player went clean through, but a heavy touch allowed the ever alert Gosney to quickly close him down and make a good save.
In the space of a minute we were both denied an equaliser and then were reduced to ten men. Lee Wort broke into the box, with his shot well saved, Targett arrived to hit the rebound, but the ball thudded off the near post and out for a throw-in. There then followed a coming together between Brad & a Bishops Cleeve player on the touchline with the officials deciding that it was the Sholing man who was the aggressor and Brad received a straight red.
Bishop Cleeve players were smiling as the game restarted, but they were soon wiped off their faces by a now fired-up Sholing who would turn the game on its head in the final moments of the first half ! On 43 minutes, TJ Cuthbertson curled a freekick into the middle of the area and DAN MASON got ahead of his marker to connect with a stooping header and the ball nestled low into the net. D-Dan's 20th of the season.
2 minutes into added time, Sami Makhloufi's ball into the box was met with a towering flick header by BYRON MASON that left the keeper rooted to the spot as it went into the far corner, to spark celebrations that included Byron celebrating with his son behind the goal. HT 2-1
The quality of our set-pieces was in evidence again after the restart, firstly Sami's corner was headed inches over by Byron, but a minute later we extended our lead. Another Sami Makhloufi corner found ROB FLOOKS to nod downwards and in slow-motion the ball grazed the inside of the upright and went in.
Boatmen were now controlling the match, with Leon Baker impressing in the heart of midfield. However, Ryan Gosney was called upon to make another quality save on the hour mark. A 22 yard freekick beat the wall and looked to be sneaking inside the post, until Gos dived full length to save.
Bishop Cleeve heads were dropping and on 63 minutes they did what no side should ever do, present the ball to LEE WORT with only the keeper to beat. Worty rounded Clayton and buried the ball into the roof of the net for his 275th goal for Sholing.
It got even worse for the visitors on 65 minutes, Jack Holmes with a reckless & dangerous challenge through the back of Leon Baker that gave the referee no option but to send him off and even the game up 10 v 10.
Dave Diaper was able to take off D-Dan, Byron & Sami to give run outs for the last 15 minutes or so for Charlie Wagstaffe, Wayne Robinson & Jake Cope. Wayne was testing the left back with his pace and almost got in a couple of times down the right. The Cleeve' keeper then came within an inch of punching the ball into his own net as it spun off his glove and shaved the crossbar. Copey had a shot deflect over as the Boatmen saw out the final moments.
We stretch our unbeaten run to 11 games and extend our lead at the top of the table to 10 points. FT 4-1
Dave Diaper : "Another 3 points in the bag. Wasn’t the best of starts by us and to go 1-0 down and down to 10 men, most teams would crumble, but that’s not what we are about. To come out winning 4-1 showed the togetherness & desire of this group of players."
Next Game : Lymington Town v Sholing - Saturday 28 January 3pm - Southern League
Photos courtesy of EspieJaz, swipe to view pics :
