Sholing 2-0 Hamworthy United
Scorers : Dan Mason 20, Lee Wort 61
Date: Saturday 18 February 2023, 3pm – Southern League Division 1 South
Venue: Imperial Homes Stadium Attendance: 225
Sholing : Ryan Gosney, Brad Targett, Marv McLean, TJ Cuthbertson, Dan Miller, Owen Roundell 82, Lee Wort, Byron Mason ©, Dan Mason (Wayne Robinson 90), Sami Makhloufi (Jake Cope 83), Charlie Wagstaffe. Unused subs : Rob Flooks, Dean Frampton, Ryan Harfield
Bookings : Byron Mason
Hamworthy United : Tommy Scott, Harvey Wright, Chris Clarke, Rhys Taylor, Billy Walker, Tony Rolls ©, Curtis Young (Rafa Ramos 77), Sean Wright, Will Fletcher (Max Willcock 62), Cameron Munn (Ed Hodge 66), Sam Griffin. Unused subs : Drew Eccott-Young, Kai Storr
Bookings : Harvey Wright, Rhys Taylor Red Card : Tony Rolls
Imperial Homes Man of the Match : Charlie Wagstaffe
Top of the table Sholing, defeated another one of the chasing pack as the deadly duo of Dan Mason & Lee Wort found the net once again. A brilliant strike by D-Dan was followed by a bundled effort by Worty on his 500th appearance as we stretch our unbeaten run to 17 games.
Team News : Rob Flooks was on the bench as Diapes went with a 3 at the back of TJ, Byron & Miller. Charlie Wagstaffe & Owen Roundell anchored midfield. Lee Wort started his 500th Sholing game, having scored an incredible 275 (now 276) goals for the Boatmen and probably over 100 for other clubs.
Weather was overcast with drizzle in the air during the first half as Hamworthy, who have impressed reaching 3rd place after promotion, having the better start. Sholing did force a couple of early corners, but were almost caught on the break each time through the Hammer's pacey play.
Good covering by Dan Miller stopped Griffin from getting in on goal down the left flank as the Boatmen struggled to make much headway going forward, then on 20 minutes and out of the blue, we took the lead !
Ryan Gosney's long kick was flicked on by Wort to DAN MASON, who spotted the keeper was off his line and hit a beauty of a 25 yard dipping shot over Scott and into the net. Probably D-Dan's best goal of the 22 he's scored so far this season.
Hamworthy came back and forced Gos into a good save at his near post and then a cross from the right deflected off a Sholing defender and clipped the top of the crossbar. Boatmen were now looking more comfortable on the ball and probably should have doubled our lead on 29 mins. A jinking run by Sami on the left side of the box saw him put over a peach of a ball to the far post where an unmarked Brad Targett put it wide with a side foot volley.
Marv did what Marv has always done and roasted the full back to the byline and cut the ball back to Lee Wort who hit a shot on the turn that the keeper saved with his legs and he was quick to get up and catch the ball as it was spinning backwards toward the empty net. HT 1-0
Charlie Wagstaffe was having a great game and put the ball on a plate to Lee Wort to run in on goal down the right channel, Wort took his shot early and Scott made the save. Hamworthy had a couple of set-pieces into the Sholing box, but Gos made some strong claims under pressure.
The second goal was definitely needed and it arrived on 61 minutes. Marv's throw from the left into the box was nodded on by Dan Mason to LEE WORT who spun and saw his shot beat the keeper, but hit the inside of the post and go across the 6 yard box where Lee got there ahead of a defender to bundle the ball into the net. It wasn't pretty, but it was certainly important and fantastic to mark such a big milestone with a goal.
Hamworthy looked a bit deflated and Sholing went hunting for a third goal, going close three times. Dan Mason's shot at the near post was deflected just over, then Sami Makhloufi was found in space in the middle of the area, but his rising shot was tipped over by the keeper. From the corner, Dan Miller headed narrowly wide at the far post.
Former Sholing player, Rafa Ramos had a header for Hamworthy that Gosney had to stretch to claw out, the ball was loose as it dropped and Gos and a Hammer's player went for the ball on the ground at the same time, with the Sholing keeper getting a boot to the face that left stud marks that were visible after the match. It didn't seem a malicious foul, but the referee showed a red card to Tony Rolls, with the visiting bench claiming mistaken identity by the official.
It was a controlled final 10 minutes of normal time and 5 minutes of added time by Sholing, to keep our unbeaten record at fortress Imperial Homes Stadium. An important win when under pressure at the top of the league, keeping our destiny in our own hands. A combined goal tally of 544 for D-Dan & Boozer, a quite mindboggling statistic! FT 2-0
Dave Diaper : "The boys produced a gutsy performance against a very good Hamworthy side who started the game quicker than we did. Goals change games and a great strike from D-Dan settled us down and we then started to get a foothold in the game. We needed a second goal to ensure the 3 points and Worty came up with the goods to enable us to see the game out at 2-0. Although the game was scrappy at times this was a great 3 points against a Hamworthy side that will, in my opinion, be sure to make the play offs."
Next Game : Sholing v Paulton Rovers - Tuesday 21 February 7:45pm - Southern League
Photos courtesy of EspieJaz, swipe to view pics :
