Frome Town 2-3 Sholing
Scorers : Jonathan Davies 5, Joseph O'Loughlin 23 / Brad Targett 49, Lee Wort 60, 66
Date: Saturday 18 March 2023, 3:00pm – Southern League Division 1 South
Venue: Badgers Hill Attendance: 357
Frome Town : Kyle Phillips, Sam Teale © (Tyson Pollard 65), Pierce Mitchell, Jago Thompson-Roberts, Jack Witcombe, Ben Starr, Conrad Essilfie-Conduah, Reece Rusher (Ben Withey 45), Joseph O'Laughlin, Jonathan Davies (Sam Meakes 77), Owen Humphries. Unused sub : Tyler Ashmead, James Ollis
Bookings : Jack Witcombe, Conrad Essilfie-Conduah
Sholing : Ryan Gosney ©, Brad Targett, Marv McLean (Jake Cope 60), TJ Cuthbertson, Rob Flooks, Owen Roundell, Dom Panesar-Dower, Charlie Wagstaffe (Wayne Robinson 46), Dan Mason, Lee Wort, Jordan Rose Unused subs : Sami Makhloufi, Josh Batt, Leon Baker
Bookings : Brad Targett
From looking dead & buried at half-time, to still fighting for the title at full time, a remarkable come from behind victory for the Boatmen at Frome Town. Second half goals by Brad Targett and a Lee Wort brace, rewarded a gutsy performance.
Team News : New signing Jordan Rose made his debut & Dom Panesar-Dower returned to the starting line-up after being on loan at Shaftsbury. Dan Mason passed a pre-match fitness test and Leon Baker returned from injury for a place on the bench. We were still without Byron Mason & Dan Miller, so Gos retained the captains armband.
A heavy rain shower an hour before kick off made way for some pleasant warm spring sunshine, that would bathe the ground for the entire game. On 2 mins, Charlie Wagstaffe broke through and his cross deflected onto the far post, but the flag was up, with the linesman getting his players mixed up as it was Dom who was the Sholing player who was off.
It was another poor decision from the linesman on 5 minutes to deny us a goal. TJ's freekick was headed into the top corner by Lee Wort, who if you look at the video on our twitter account, was well onside. It set the tone for the first half.
Our frustrations were intensified as Frome took the lead 2 minutes later, Jonathan Davies cut into the box and fired in off the far post. Could have been another goal soon after, as a long clearance put Humphries in on goal, but he pulled his shot wide.
On 20 minutes Lee Wort's honesty was his undoing as he jinked into the area and was caught be a trailing leg, he stumbled, but stayed on his feet and as we see too often, the officials only react to players going to ground screaming. Marv was having success down the left and his low ball in found Wort, who put a shot inches wide.
Frome doubled their lead on 23 mins, Davies wasn't closed down and given time, chipped the ball into Joseph O'Loughlin to take a touch in the box and find the back of the net via the inside of the upright. Frome had a goal disallowed for offside as the remainer of the half was full of stoppages and saw us going into the break with a mountain to climb. HT 0-2
Charlie Wagstaffe suffering an injury, came off to be replaced by Wayne Robinson for the restart. The Boatmen needed to score the next goal and did exactly that on 5 minutes into the second half.
Marv was hauled down as he broke down the left wing. BRAD TARGETT took the freekick with his wicked inswinger being missed by everyone, including the keeper as the ball nestled inside the far post.
Yet another injury concern as Marv went off to be replaced by Copey. Sholing were putting the home side under pressure and drew level on the hour mark. Nice bit of skill by Owen Roundell opened up room for a 22 yard shot that took the keeper by surprise as he palmed it out, where Wayne Robinson quickly recovered the ball and scooped it back into the 6 yard box where LEE WORT planted a header that was saved, but he was on hand to knock in the rebound.
Frome were looking rattled on and off the pitch as their fans were now very quiet, with the Sholing support making all the noise behind the goal.
The comeback was complete on 66 minutes when LEE WORT put the last Frome defender under pressure, forcing an understrength back pass that Boozer seized upon to slot under the advancing keeper to spark wild celebrations down in the corner between players and fans. It was Wort's 25th goal of the season & his 281st for Sholing.
We did, or should have had a 4th goal on 72 minutes. A freekick on the right edge of the box was expected to be crossed into the middle, but instead, Jake Cope whipped the ball to the near post where the keeper scrambled across to get to it, with Sholing players & fans alike, claiming it had gone over the line before the Frome keeper could pin the ball against the inside of the post. The officials looked at each other and waved play on.
Brad Targett picked up a yellow card for a tackle from behind, just a minute after a similar tackle on Wayne Robinson didn't even receive a talking to by the Ref. There was little in the way of a Frome fight back as the Sholing defence held firm and we had a couple more half chances to extend our lead. 4 minutes of added time became 5 minutes, but finally the whistle came and we were able to celebrate a thrilling win.
The final score mirrored the game at the Imperial Home Stadium earlier this season, where we also came from behind to get the 3 points against Frome. The victory keeps us in the hunt for the title, Totton are now favourites with their games in hand, but football is a funny old game, as today again proved. FT 2-3
Dave Diaper : "What a comeback by the boys today! 2-0 down at half time, but we always thought we could turn things around in the second half, kicking down the slope. We are gradually getting back to full strength and shaping up well for the remaining games. Thanks again to our terrific supporters for their brilliant backing today and to Frome for their hospitality"
Next Game : Sholing v Hythe & Dibden - Wednesday 22 March 7:30pm - Soton Senior Cup Semi Final - Game takes place at Romsey Town FC.
Photos courtesy of EspieJaz, swipe to view pics :
