Sholing 0-2 Evesham United

Scorers : Dan Griffiths 17, Will Owens 68

Date: Tuesday 28 February 2023, 7:45pm – Southern League Division 1 South

Venue:  Imperial Homes Stadium  Attendance: 122

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, TJ Cuthbertson, Brad Targett, Owen Roundell (Josh Batt 64), Rob Flooks, Charlie Wagstaffe (Leon Baker 77), Lee Wort, Byron Mason ©, Dan Mason, Sami Makhloufi (Wayne Robinson 73) Jake Cope.  Unused subs : Marv McLean, Dan Miller

Bookings : Charlie Wagstaffe, Rob Flooks, Brad Targett

Evesham United : Ed Brearey, Ben Hammett, Adam Mace ©, Charles Wise, Elliot Keightley, Ethan Moran (Will Owens 62), Kyle Belmonte, Dan Griffiths (Alfie Dunn 75), Daniel-Ray Djurovic, Jordan Lymn, Michael O'Regan.

Bookings : Ben Hammett, Charles Wise, Dan Griffiths, Jordan Lymn  Red Card : Alfie Dunn

Sholing's 20 game unbeaten run and also our unbeaten home record, came to an end in a poor match that looked like one game too many for the league leaders.

Team News : Byron took charge with Dave & Marc Diaper unavailable. Marv & Dan Miller were named on the bench, but weren't fit enough for action.  We lined up with the same formation that saw us draw on Saturday to the 2nd from bottom side and tonight we were against a team with previously only 2 away wins this season...

We were playing our 5th game in 11 days and despite a bright start where we pinned Evesham back, but without creating much, we became increasingly laboured and sloppy with our play.  That cost us when the ball was given away in midfield, allowing Evesham to work the ball to the right of the box where Dan Griffiths cut inside and drilled a low shot past Gos.

Brad Targett had a shot from the edge of the box shovelled round the near post, but with Evesham showing greater intensity in their play, most of our attacks were snuffed out before we could get Dan & Wort involved.

Our best chance came on the stroke of half time when Charlie Wagstaffe tried a curling effort from just outside the box that Brearey did well to tip round the upright.  Then Dan Mason's shot on the turn whistled just wide.  HT 0-1

Not going to lie, the second half was a mess from a Sholing point of view.  The visitors continued to show more energy and better workrate to close us down all over the pitch, whilst slowing the game down when they had the opportunity.  The first flare up between players on 59 mins after a late challenge by Wagstaffe, seemed to go on for ages, with silliness from both sides.

Probably the only bit of quality in the second half gave Evesham their second goal.  A 25 yard freekick by Will Owens was bent around the outside of the wall and sneaked inside the near post with Gosney rooted to the spot.

There was a couple of nearly moments for Sholing, but nothing to worry the keeper and we were to fail to score in the league for the first time since September.

Evesham went down to 10 men, when Owens was given a straight red with 3 minutes to go after yet another bout of handbags down by the corner flag.   The visitors were able to see out added time and celebrate their deserved win.

A definite feeling of the lads running on empty, but still a very disappointing way to end our unbeaten run, which leaves the title up for grabs.  However, we don't become a bad team overnight and it's been an incredible four months of performances and results that still has us top of the league.  Got to brush this one off, regroup and go again. FT 0-2

Next Game : Sholing v Wimborne - Saturday 4 March 3pm - Southern League