Sholing 0-0 Wimborne Town

Scorers :

Date: Saturday 4 March 2023, 3pm – Southern League Division 1 South

Venue:  Imperial Homes Stadium  Attendance: 220

Sholing : Ryan Gosney ©, TJ Cuthbertson, Marv McLean, Josh Batt, Rob Flooks, Owen Roundell, Brad Targett (Wayne Robinson 84), Charlie Wagstaffe, Dan Mason, Lee Wort, Jake Cope (Sami Makhloufi 81).  Unused subs : Dean Frampton, Kamil Adediran, Sonny Hanson

Bookings :

Wimborne Town : Shane Murphy, Oakley Hanger, Connal Morrison, Ashley Wells, Connor Cocklin, Henry Lander, Ben Satterley, Harry Morgan © (Louis Kellaway 92), Jez Bedford (Aaron Roberts 85), Harry Baker (Asa Phillips 86), Lewis Beale.  Unused sub : Dan Bartlett

Bookings :

Dansach Man of the Match : Josh Batt

Both defences were on top as an injury hit Sholing were held to a goalless draw by 4th place Wimborne.

Team News : Sholing were without the injured Byron Mason, Dan Miller & Leon Baker and several players who are not fully fit after a brutal schedule of games, started the match. Josh Batt came into the back line and on the bench was three teenagers, including 16 year old Sonny Hanson.

It was an uneventful opening to the game with the first chance falling to Sholing on 13 minutes when a corner caused a scramble at the far post, but no Boatman could get a clean connection as the ball was hacked clear. 

Josh Batt showed good awareness to get in a last ditch block when it looked as though Wimborne were in. A deep cross on the run by Charlie Wagstaffe had the Wimborne keeper worried it might drop in, he stretched to palm it down into the box where no Sholing player was quick enough to react.  Skipper Gosney had a couple of routine saves to make as the half finished. HT 0-0

Wimborne were to hit the woodwork 5 minutes into the second half when Beale shot against the outside of the post from a tight angle.

Lee Wort saw the ball sit up nicely for him 25 yards out, with his well struck volley dipping just too late and landing on the roof of the net.   Wagstaffe did well to hook the ball into the 6 yard box from the byline where Dan Mason met it with a header that went over.

Substitutions from both sides didn't manage to effect any late goalmouth action as the game petered out to a draw.  A challenging week for Sholing, who do remain top, but rivals with deep pockets continually signing players and our resources stretched thin, it will take a lot of battling to win the title, but we won't give up.  FT 0-0

Dave Diaper : "A hard to watch nil nil, which was a fair result.  Game lacked any real quality, but I am proud of our lads who have just come through a punishing schedule, which has pushed our squad to the limit.  Especially as we are missing key players.  We have to go again on Tuesday when we travel to Aldershot Town in the Hants Cup"