Scorers : Dan Mason 14, Dan Miller 26, Lee Wort 34 & 73

Date : Friday 21st July 2017 - 7:30pm - Pre-Season Friendly

Venue : Universal Stadium

Sholing (players used) : Ryan Gosney, TJ Cuthbertson, Marv McLean, Dan Miller, Byron Mason, Micky Hubbard, Alex Sawyer, A Trialist, Zac Mouland, Lee Wort, Dan Mason, Barry Mason, Jean-Luc Ramdin, Connor Kelly, Kevin Brewster, Jamie Bulpitt, Jamie Bray

Whitchurch United:

Attendance : 64

Sholing got their pre-season fixtures underway with an entertaining & competitive game against Whitchurch United.  Thunderstorms & torrential rain meant Tuesday's game at Winchester had to be called off and once again, the weather took centre stage as heavy rain didn't relent for the entire 90 minutes.

As you would expect, the Boatmen were a bit rusty in the opening exchanges, but there was a sense of normality restored on 14 minutes when DAN MASON scored the opening goal.  If there is such a thing as a trademark D-Dan goal, then this was pretty much it.  He collected the ball outside the area with his back to goal, held off the defender, turned, made a little space and fired into the bottom corner, leaving the keeper rooted to the spot.

Sholing doubled the lead on 26 minutes when Micky Hubbard floated in a corner towards the far post and DAN MILLER rose highest to nod down inside the post.  The Boatmen were looking much sharper now, passing the ball around well with the front 3 showing good movement.  TJ drove forward into some space and let fly from 25 yards, but the Whitchurch keeper did very well to tip over the stinging drive.  From the resultant corner, Byron climbed highest, but his header crashed off the underside of the bar and out.

Boatmen grabbed their third goal with a well worked move on 34 mins.  Dan Mason collected the ball on the right edge of the box, turned his man and drove towards the 6 yard box where he squared the ball to LEE WORT to force it over the line under pressure from a defender.  HT 3-0

The subsitutions started to flow in the second half, with Connor Kelly given his first run out in Sholing colours following his move from Newport IoW.  He immediately showed good pace and a willingness to take people on with some runs down the left wing.   There wasn't a great deal of goal mouth action for the few fans taking shelter in the stand and outside the clubhouse, partly as Sholing wasted several good openings when they got in behind the Whitchurch defence, but failed to pick out a team mate.

On 71 minutes, the Boatmen were awarded a penalty when in a bundle, a Whitchurch defender handled on the line.  Perhaps a bit harshly given it was a friendly, he was shown his marching orders by the ref.  Lee Wort stepped up, but the keeper dived to his left to parry the penalty into the path of Jean-Luc, who smacked the follow up onto the top of the bar.

LEE WORT only had to wait a minute to find the net again when Barry Mason crossed from the right and Lee connected with a shot that bounced into the ground and up and over the stranded keeper.

Whitchurch, who included ex-Boatmen Nick Yeomans & Corey Cherrett, looked a bit more dangerous with 10 men, than 11 and with Jamie Bray coming on for the underworked Gosney, he was forced into a couple of good saves.  There was also a goalmouth scramble that somehow didn't result in the visitors scoring.  FT 4-0

Overall, a good run-out for the first team squad, who looked much sharper than you would expect for their first game of pre-season.  Thanks to Whitchurch for playing their part in dreadful weather conditions.  Good luck for the season (apart when we face each other in the Hampshire Cup in a few weeks!)

Next Game : Fawley v Sholing, Wednesday 26th July 7:30pm
Next Home Game : Sholing v East Cowes Vics, Friday 28th July 7:30pm

Photos courtesy of Ray Routledge (click an image to enlarge)

Scorers : Lee Wort 44, Connor Kelly 64

Date : Tuesday 1st August 2017 - 7:45pm - Sydenhams Wessex Premier

Venue : Westwood Park

Cowes Sports : Ed Hatt, Jimmy Wykes, Ewan Cranwell, Callum Chase, Craig Insley [c], Max Draper, Gareth Bricknell, Leigh Mackenzie, Connor Furmidge, Ollie McArthur, Jason Malcomson.  Subs : George Turner, Tom Dye, Ash Brett, Jason Ince & Darren Willimas

Yellow Card : Callum Chase, Ewan Cranwell, Gareth Bricknell
Red Card : Callum Chase

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, TJ Cuthbertson, Marv McLean, Byron Mason [c], Dan Miller, Micky Hubbard (Owen Royl 81), Alex Sawyer, Connor Kelly (Bradey Norton 75), Dan Mason, Lee Wort (Barry Mason 75), Jamie Bulpitt  Subs not used : Zac Mouland & Jack Smith

Yellow Card : TJ Cuthbertson, Alex Sawyer

Attendance : 144 (approx 20 Sholing fans)

Man of the Match : Byron Mason

Referee : Sean Jenkins   Assistants : Steve Currie & Elliott Bracken-Lamb

Boatmen overcame a tricky away game to start the season with a victory at Cowes Sports.  Goals either side of half time by Lee Wort & on his debut, Connor Kelly, rewarded a dominant display.

Team News : With Owen Roundell injured, Byron Mason partnered Dan Miller in defence. Isle of Wight resident, Connor Kelly had the easiest journey of the team and started on the left of midfield in a familiar looking Sholing line-up.

Home side started the brighter with a move down the left wing that saw a cross shot flash narrowly wide of the far post.  Sholing took 15 minutes to get going, but once they did, they went on to create chance after chance in the first half.

Jamie Bulpitt dragged a shot wide of the upright before Dan Mason headed a freekick towards the near post a foot wide.  Last season's leading scorer then evaded challenges to make room inside the box, but the keeper saved Dan's low shot with his legs.  It was a similar story on 21 mins as Lee Wort skipped past two defenders to open up a shooting chance, but didn't quite connect as he wanted and his scuffed effort was saved.

Set pieces for Sholing were causing Cowes all sorts of problems, with Micky Hubbard's delivery finding the head of Byron Mason whose goalbound header was tipped over the bar.  A minute later and Byron once again rose highest to thump a header off the woodwork.  Dan Miller was next to put a header from a set piece narrowly wide as the pressure grew and grew on the home defence.  On 42 minutes a nice delivery by TJ was met by the incoming Alex Sawyer, but once again, the header was just off target.

A minute before the break and finally Sholing got their reward.  A sweeping move out from defence saw interchanging passes up to Alex Sawyer in the Cowes half, he switched play to the overlapping TJ on the wing and the right back hit a peach of a first time cross to LEE WORT who rose above his marker to head the ball back pass the diving keeper.  HT 0-1

After being a virtual spectator in pre-season and for the first half, Ryan Gosney didn't show any signs of being rusty as he denied Cowes an equaliser on 49 minutes.  As Sholing backed off the advancing Wykes, his one two on the edge of the box saw him go straight through the middle, but Gos spread himself to save at point blank range.

The game then entered a niggly phase with a few late challenges by either side and several cautions issued by the referee.  On 64 minutes the Boatmen doubled their advantage.  Dan Mason was hauled down just outside the box and CONNOR KELLY stepped up to take the freekick.  His well struck effort flicked off the end of the wall and spun its way just inside the far post for a debut goal.

{youtube}9juaED9wEvc{/youtube}

Cowes were reduced to 10 men when Callum Chase picked up a second yellow following a coming together.  Gosney pulled off a brilliant save on 72 minutes, clawing away a fierce shot on the turn from his near post.

With 15 minutes to go, the lights went out for Cowes, literally, as the floodlights failed!  Thankfully, after a 10 minute delay where visiting supporters were double checking the ferry times, the lights came back on.  The home side were looking more lively with 10 men than with 11 and Sholing's defence had to hack away a couple of late threats.  However, the Boatmen could have added more goals in the final minutes as first Bradey Norton curled a shot just over. Then, Jamie Bulpitt broke into the box, but was denied by the keeper.  In the final minute, for the second time in the game, Byron Mason headed against the woodwork. 

But it was job done for Sholing, deserved 3 points and a clean sheet to start the season.  FT 0-2

Next Home Game : Sholing v Alresford, FA Cup, Friday 4th August 7:45pm

Report & Photos by Keith Legg

• Happy Jack Happy Jack
• Warm Up Warm Up
• Lads take their seats Lads take their seats
• Cowes Stand Cowes Stand
• Sun sets on the Isle of Wight Sun sets on the Isle of Wight
• Oldest stand in the league Oldest stand in the league
• Handshakes Handshakes
• Filling up Filling up
• Onion strikes a pose Onion strikes a pose
• Season gets underway! Season gets underway!
• Away day Andy Away day Andy
• Westwood Park Westwood Park
• Through the net Through the net
• Connor Kelly Connor Kelly
• Close call Close call
• Marv's a blur Marv's a blur
• D-Dan nods wide D-Dan nods wide
• Summer Football Summer Football
• Hubsy considers his options Hubsy considers his options
• Lee Wort celebrates scoring Lee Wort celebrates scoring
• Floodlights on Floodlights on
• Floodlights off! Floodlights off!
• The Managment The Managment
• Owen comes on Owen comes on
•  

Scorers : Barry Mason 8, Bradey Norton 84

Date : Wednesday 26th July 2017 - 7:30pm - Pre-Season Friendly

Venue : Waterside Social Club

Sholing (players used) : Ryan Gosney, TJ Cuthbertson, Marv McLean, Dan Miller, Jack Smith, Micky Hubbard, Jamie Bulpitt, Byron Mason, Connor Kelly, Barry Mason, Dan Mason, Jake Hoole, Owen Royl, Alex Sawyer, Zac Mouland, Bradey Norton

Attendance : Approx 50

Boatmen made it two wins out of two and no goals conceded as preparations for the season continued.  After missing almost all of last season through injury, there was a welcome return to action for Jack Smith.

Sholing were looking threatening down the flanks and from such a move, the opening goal was scored on 8 minutes.  A ball from the left found it's way to BARRY MASON in the middle of the box, 10 yards out, his first effort was saved, but came straight back to Baz to score.

Fawley keeper pulled off two good saves, firstly to deny Byron Mason, who had ghosted round the back and connected with a deep cross, but his header back across the keeper was stopped by an outstretched palm.  Then Micky Hubbard's 25 yard freekick dipped over the wall, but again the keeper went full length to push round the post.   HT 0-1

Dave Diaper made a few changes at half time and it took a while for Sholing to adjust.  On 56 minutes, Dan Mason intercepted a back pass, his first effort was blocked at near post by the keeper, who then also saved the follow up by D-Dan.   Jamie Bulpitt then ran into space and connected well with his shot that surprised the keeper, who batted it down into the path of Alex Sawyer, but he put it wide with the goal gaping.

Fawley had looked lively, without creating too much going forward, but on 69 minutes, a snap shot from the edge of the box seemed to take a deflection and the ball smacked off the crossbar.   As the game entered the final 10 minutes, Zac Mouland had a low shot on the run, pushed away by the Fawley goalkeeper.

Boatmen got their second goal with 6 minutes remaining as Jake Hoole hit a well struck shot from 20 yards that once again, the keeper parried, but this time it fell nicely for the arriving BRADEY NORTON to knock into the net.  FT 0-2

After East Cowes Vics pulled out of Friday's friendly, the First Team Squad will now take on the Development Squad with a 7pm kick off.  Free admission and the tea bar will be open.

Next Game : Cowes Sports v Sholing, Wessex Premier, Tuesday 1st August 7:45pm
Next Home Game : Sholing v Alresford, FA Cup, Friday 4th August 7:45pm

Photos courtesy of Ray Routledge (click an image to enlarge)

Scorers : Dan Mason 90+3  /  Steve Hall 30,  Tom Sands 49

Date : Friday 4th August 2017 - 7:45pm - FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round

Venue : Universal Stadium

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, TJ Cuthbertson, Jack Smith, Byron Mason, Dan Miller, Micky Hubbard, Alex Sawyer, Connor Kelly (Barry Mason 66), Dan Mason, Lee Wort, Jamie Bulpitt.  Subs not used: Owen Royl, Bradey Norton, Zac Mouland, Kevin Brewster & Jamie Bray

Yellow Card : Jamie Bulpitt, Lee Wort, Byron Mason
Red Card : Alex Sawyer

Alresford Town : Daniel Kempson, John Cole, Sam Burt, Simon Everett, Lukas McCartney, Sam Doswell, Scott Munro, Chris Mason [c], Tom Sands, Aaron Blaxall, Steve Hall.  Subs : Dave Parry, Matt Andrews, Brad Benson, Geoff Dunn, Scott Gilham, Mike Weatherall

Yellow Card : ?
Red Card : Lukas McCartney

Attendance : 302

Man of the Match : Jack Smith

Referee : Craig Finean   Assistants : Matthew Sells & Craig Sandoe

Sholing crashed out of the FA Cup in a bad tempered match that was more stop, than start.  An early penalty miss set the tone for Sholing as the lively visitors took their chances, with the Boatmen unable to work the Alresford keeper enough to deserve going through.

Team News : Marv was unavailable so Jack Smith played at left back.  Byron remained at Centre back.

A big crowd were making the most of a pleasant summer's evening as Sholing entered the pitch in their smart new Kappa kit.  With Dave Diaper on holiday, Marc Diaper took charge.  An even start to the game seemed to turn in Sholing's favour on 9 minutes when Lee Wort advanced into the box, was tackled from behind and the ref pointed to the spot.  Dan Mason hit his effort to the keeper's left, but Kempson guessed correctly and made a good stop.

The match was starting to get more physical and niggly. Alresford, on and off the pitch, were taking appealing to the officials to a new level by hotly contesting every single decision.  However, when they focused on their football, they took the lead on 30 minutes. Before being closed down by a hesitant Sholing defence, Steve Hall fired a shot across Gosney that found the far corner.

Rest of the first half was free of goalmouth action, with a couple of stoppages for injuries to Alresford players and a lot of needless freekicks by both sides.  HT 0-1

The next goal was going to be hugely important and it was Alresford who got it on 49 minutes. Tom Sands cut in from the left wing and his effort from the edge of the box seemed to wrong foot Gosney who could only watch as the ball rolled inside the post.

You could sense Sholing's frustration and that boiled over on 65 minutes when a simple pass towards Alex Sawyer was underhit and the midfielder lunged two footed into a challenge with Sam Burt that saw the Alresford left back come off a lot worse and spark both teams squaring off.  Was a straight red card for Sawyer and also Lukas McCartney got his marching orders for raising his hands in the scuffle that ensued.  Sam Burt left the ground in an Ambulance, with reports saying no break, but some ligament damage. All the best to him for a speedy recovery.

After a delay of 6 minutes, the game got underway again, but remained on a knife-edge, temper wise. Bulpitt being the latest to be pulled away from a melee.  Alresford continued to play the more incisive football and Gosney did well to save an effort with his legs.   Took until 73 mins for the Boatmen to force the keeper into a save from open play, and it was a very good one as Kempson tipped a fierce Lee Wort shot over the bar. 

In the 3rd minute of added time, a freekick on the edge of the Alresford box was fired towards goal by Micky Hubbard with it flicking off DAN MASON to spin past the wrong footed keeper.   Wasn't to be a grandstand finish as the Ref blew the final whistle a minute later, despite a huge amount of stoppages in the 2nd half.  FT 1-2

Next Home Game : Sholing v Baffins Milton Rovers - Tuesday 8 August 7:45 - Wessex Prem

Photos by Ray Routledge