Sholing 5-1 Winchester City

Scorers : Dan Mason 16, 90+2, Luka Chalwell 36, Brad Targett 39, Alex MacAllister 62 / Pip Nolan 64 (pen)

Date: Saturday 13 January 2024 - 3pm – Southern League Premier South

Venue: Imperial Homes Stadium  Attendance: 335

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, Brad Targett, Marv McLean (Mathias Tepe 70), Owen Roundell, George Milner-Smith, Byron Mason © (Rob Flooks 30), Charlie Davis, Keane Anderson, Dan Mason, Luka Chalwell (Charlie Wagstaffe 76), Alex MacAllister. Unused subs : Jake Cope, Jake Hesketh

Yellow Card:  Keane Anderson, Rob Flooks

Winchester City : Ryan Pryce, Joshua McCormick, Dan King, Dan Jones (Devon Arnold 75), Rob Jamison (Stuart Mott 45), Pip Nolan, Max Smith, Jamie Barron © (Oliver Griggs 46), Tommy Wright, Simba Mlambo, Trevor Caborn.  Unused Subs : Ollie Balmer, Henry Brooks

Yellow Card:  Jamie Barron, Tommy Wright

Man of the Match:  Brad Targett

A 5 star performance by the Boatmen who completed the double over Winchester to record our biggest scoreline of the season and make it two big local derby wins in the space of a week.

Team News : Alex MacAllister started in place of Karlos Gregory, who was away with AFCB.  Was a surprise & welcome return to the squad to Jake Hesketh, who took a place on the bench.

It was a freezing cold day at the Imperial Homes Stadium and the Boatmen started on the front foot, with Charlie Davis crossing from the right for Dan Mason to meet it with a glancing header, but a deflection off a defender took the pace off and made it comfortable for the keeper.

Sholing took the lead on 15 mins with a well worked goal. Some slick passing in midfield saw Davis feed Marv McLean on the left wing, he cut onto his right foot and floated a deep cross to the far post for the arriving Brad Targett who nodded it into the 6 yard box for DAN MASON to head home.

We almost doubled our lead on 19 minutes when Davis' corner found Brad Targett whose header was kneed off the line, falling to Byron who shot narrowly over.  Cabourn shot just wide for Winchester before Luka Chalwell charged down a clearance to break through and fire a low shot that Pryce saved.   Byron landed heavily on his shoulder and was replaced on the half hour by Rob Flooks.

Boatmen scored two quick-fire set piece goals to take control of the game. A Charlie Davis corner was nodded back by Brad Targett for LUKA CHALWELL to score his first league goal for Sholing with a downward glancing header.

3 minutes later and another superb Charlie Davis delivery, this time from a freekick 40 yards out was met by BRAD TARGETT who craned his neck to nod back past the keeper into the far corner.  A goal and two assists for Brad.  Just before the break, some amazing vision by Keane Anderson to find and release Alex MacAllister into the left channel and he was twice denied by the keeper and then a defender at the foot of the post.  HT 3-0

Winchester took off their Captain at half time, who was perhaps fortunate not to have been sent off just before the break after showing his frustation with a heavy challenge on Davis and a bit of afters with it.  The visitors pushed hard for a goal, but were twice denied by good saves by Ryan Gosney. First one a full length dive to his right and the second an instinctive close range one handed stop.

Boatmen made the points safe on 63 minutes when Dan Mason won his battle with a centre half and nicely lifted the ball into the path of ALEX MACALLISTER who controlled and swept the ball low past the keeper for his first goal for the club in his first start.

A foul by Gos conceded a penalty that Pip Nolan scored from to give Winchester a consolation, but the icing on the cake came into stoppage time when good pressure by MacAllister on the goalkeeper forced a hurried clearance that Keane Anderson siezed upon to feed Brad Targett.  Brad knocked the ball between two Winchester defenders and ran into the box to pick out DAN MASON near the penalty spot to control, turn and fire into the net for the classic D-Dan finish and take him onto 14 goals for the season so far.  Final whistle saw the Boatmen celebrate an almost perfect week of two emphatic wins over our local rivals and lift us into the top 10. FT 5-1

Dos : "Coming into yesterday, we felt it would be a very tough game. Winchester have had some excellent results, especially away from home, so I have a lot of respect for Craig Davis and his side. Bit like us, they are punching above their weight against some big clubs in this division and I think we put on a decent game for the fans."

"On the balance of play, it wasn't a 5-1 game, but we will take it.   Tactically, it was the right thing to do to get in behind Winch and I thought D-Dan & Alex worked very well as a pair and Luka gave us something different sitting in behind those two."  

"Goals change games and our opener was well created and we have been working on both wing-backs being involved in attacking areas. So it worked a treat having Marv pick out Brad to set up D-Dan.  Our set pieces continue to be a strength with Charlie's delivery and willingness of our players to be first to the ball.  We sat back a bit in the second half, allowing Winch to dominate for a period, but Gos made two terrific saves and two more well worked and well taken goals gave us a deserved three points."

Next Game : Sholing v AFC Portchester - Tuesday 16 Jan 7:45pm - Russell Cotes Cup

Photos courtesy of EspieJaz, swipe to view pics :