Plymouth Parkway 1-3 Sholing
Scorers : Oscar Halls 59 / Jake Cope 6, Brad Targett 90+4, Jake Adams 90+6
Date: Tuesday 15 August 2023, 7:45pm – Southern League Premier South
Venue: Bolitho Park Attendance: 409
Plymouth Parkway : Cory Harvey, Harrison King (Aaron Goulty 76), Ionel-Ciprian Lolot (Alfie Moulden 68), Oscar Halls, Callum Rose ©, Toby Down (Dylan Jones 45), Michael Williams, Tom Purrington, Jack Crago, Rio Garside, Matthew Wright. Unused subs : Henry Wilson, Oliver Sidey
Bookings : Tom Purrington
Sholing : Ryan Gosney, Jake Flannigan, Brad Targett, Owen Roundell, Tyler Edmondson, Charlie Wagstaffe, Jake Adams, Jake Hesketh, Dan Mason ©, Wayne Robinson 70, Jake Cope. Unused subs : Charlie Fox, Sam Mould, Byron Mason, Ryan Harfield, Sonny Hanson
Bookings : Charlie Wagstaffe, Brad Targett, Wayne Robinson, Jake Cope
Sholing Man of the Match : Charlie Wagstaffe
The long journey down to Plymouth on a Tuesday night was rewarded with 3 points in a thrilling game, where the Boatmen scored twice in added time. Jake Cope's superb goal opened the scoring, the home side hit back in the 2nd half, but Sholing's persistance to get the win paid off with Brad Targett & Jake Adams finding the net.
Team News : There was another new face in the team, as Tyler Edmondson made his debut at centre half after a month long loan was agreed with Southampton FC for their 17 year old scholar. Tyler is no stranger to the Boatmen, having played for several seasons for our Youth teams as a nipper. It was a very young bench, with Byron making up the numbers but wasn't going to be risked. Marv joined Miller, TJ & Flooksy on the injury list and Castle & Sawyer were unvailable. Dan Mason took the captain's armband.
The very impressive Plymouth Parkway ground was bathed in evening sunshine on a warm day in Devon. Both sides exchanged corners before Sholing took the lead on 6 mins. Owen Roundell played a lovely crossfield pass from defence to the left channel and right into the path of JAKE COPE who let it bounce once and then hit a superb volley from the corner of the box across the keeper and into the far corner.
Parkway hit back and probably should have equalised on 15 mins, but Crago put his effort wide from close range. It was end to end stuff, but slowly the Boatmen took control, playing some neat & tidy football. We forced 3 corners in a row before a sweeping move down the right saw Dan Mason's shot blocked at the near post.
In the space of a few minutes, the referee booked a player from each side for wasting time. Yes, it's the new directive, but seemed a bit unnecessary given the high tempo manner of this game.
Wayne Robinson continued where he left off against Winchester, putting the Parkway defence on the back foot and on 42 mins went very close to scoring. Wayne twisted past two defenders on the edge of the box and got away a fierce shot that was brilliantly tipped over by Harvey. D-Dan headed into the side netting before Robinson fired wide to bring the half to an end. HT 0-1
Parkway changed their formation for the second half and showed more energy to push us deeper. The home side got their equaliser with a slice of luck attached to it. Gosney went up to catch a corner, claiming he was pushed as the ball dropped loose, a Sholing player tried to hack the ball clear, but Oscar Halls put in a block that saw the ball loop slowly back into the empty net.
Plymouth's best spell of the game then followed and Sholing had to defend, with Roundell & Edmondson working well together at the back, helped by the experience of Flannigan at right back, Wags sitting deep in midfield and the always impressive heading ability of Targett. Tyler Edmondson was having an impressive debut and looked far more mature in his play than his age would indicate.
There were some half-chances for the home side, but Sholing rode the storm and started to take back control again. Jake Adams was denied by the keeper and then a cross by Copey clipped the top of the crossbar. Wayne Robinson was found in space on the edge of the area, but delayed getting his shot away.
Owen Roundell made a superb block when it looked like the home side were about to take the lead and they went close with 5 mins remaining when Crago headed into the ground, but the ball bounced just over the bar.
Most away teams in this situation would probably settle for a point at this stage, but not Sholing. Even though we made no substitutions, the energy levels were still high to go hunting for a winner.
It looked for a moment that the one big chance we'd get in added time wouldn't herald 3 points as Dan Mason worked space in the box and lashed the ball against the crossbar. However when the ball was recycled it found the arriving BRAD TARGETT on the edge of the box and he connected with a sweet half-volley that screamed inside the post to empty the bench and the team to celebrate wildly with the Sholing fans behind the goal.
It was a breathless moment, but there was more to come, this time a bit of fortune for us as the Parkway keeper slipped outside his box, presenting the ball to JAKE ADAMS, but he had the presence of mind and the skill to chip the ball into the empty net from 20 yards. An incredible finish to an excellent match. The home side played their part to match their generous hospitality off the pitch. FT 1-3
Special mention to our supporters who made the trip down and were backing the team from the first minute to the last. Fantastic support !
Dave Diaper : "Another 1-3 win on the road, this time against a very good Plymouth Parkway side. I thought it was a great game for any neutrals and could of gone either way in the last 10 minutes. However, we got the all important 2nd goal and then the 3rd just capped it off. It made for a very happy, if very tired, coach trip home! Not sure I could single out one player as our MOTM, they were all outstanding in their own way"
Next Game : Sholing v Hayes & Yeading United - SUNDAY 20 August 3pm - Southern Premier
Photos courtesy of EspieJaz, swipe to view pics :
