Sholing 5-2 Romsey Town

Scorers : Jake Cope 6, Rob Flooks 13, Wayne Robinson 16, Owen Roundell 21, Ryan Harfield 29  /  Jaheim Dotse 48, Owen Holloway 60 (pen)

Date: Tuesday 19 September 2023, 7:45pm – Southampton Senior Cup First Round

Venue: Imperial Homes Stadium  Attendance: 97

Sholing : Ryan Gosney (Theo Widger 46), Brad Targett (Alex Sawyer 65), Jake Adams, Rob Flooks, Owen Roundell, Wayne Robinson, Byron Mason © (Adam Payce 71), Ryan Harfield (Charlie Fox 46), Jake Hesketh, Jake Cope, Fin Du Port. Unused subs : Marv McLean

Romsey Town : Miles Bartram, Harry Prisk, Billy Brackley, Will Hall, George Ockwell, Kieran Hancock, Ross Lamb, Owen Holloway ©, Liam Magee, Jahiem Dotse, Charlie Hawes.  Subs : Ant Croucher, Sam White, Josh Jeffery, Josh Gibson, Geoff Dunn

Boatmen advanced in the Southampton Senior Cup after scoring 5 goals inside the first 30 minutes.

Team News : It was our first appearance in the 1st round of this competition in at least the last 10 seasons.  Slightly strange given we have never been higher in the non league pyramid than we are now and were in the final last season, but the game did come at a good time to give some players a run-out and improve sharpness of others.  Jake Hesketh returned from suspension and was joined in the starting line-up by youngsters Fin Du Port & Ryan Harfield.  We faced Wessex Div 1 side, Romsey Town, who currently sit in 4th in their league.

With light rain being driven in sideways by a gusty wind, wasn't a great night for football, but the rain did slick up the pitch and the Boatmen were soon zipping the ball around at pace on it.  We took the lead on 6 minutes with a superb solo goal by JAKE COPE.  Copey kept the ball in on the left touchline, cut inside and went on a run past several defenders before scoring low across the keeper.

Lead was doubled on 13 mins, Jake Adam's inswinging corner found ROB FLOOKS to knock in from close range.  3 minutes later and we scored again, Jake Hesketh spotted the run of WAYNE ROBINSON to feed him inside the box to slot past the keeper.

On 21 mins, OWEN ROUNDELL scored a beauty, hammering into the top corner from just outside the box.  There was another good finish just before the half hour, this time from RYAN HARFIELD who fired past the keeper at the near post for his first senior goal for the club.   HT 5-0

Theo Widger replaced Gosney and Charlie Fox replaced Ryan Harfield for the start of the second half.  Romsey got themselves a goal back almost immediately when a ball to the back post was knocked back for Jaheim Dotse to hook in. 

The tempo from the Boatmen dropped from the first half and Romsey were looking better organised and got another goal on the hour mark when a penalty was converted by Owen Holloway. 

Sholing did have further chances to score, Robinson shot wide and Jake Adams had a long range effort tipped over the bar.   The win puts us through to face AFC Stoneham away in the next round. Date to be confirmed.  FT 5-2

Next Game : Beaconsfield Town v Sholing - Saturday 23 Sept 3pm - Southern League Premier

Photos courtesy of EspieJaz, swipe to view pics :