Scorers : Stephenson 64 / Alex Sawyer 39
Date : Tuesday 1st December 2015 - 7:45pm kick off - Southampton Senior Cup
Lymington Town : Stuart Williamson, Brad Strackland, Tim Stephenson, Darren Ritchie, Luke Ansell, Warren Kenna (Nick Magee), Elliot Cross, Harrison Weeks, Nathan Hurst, Zak Mouland (Tom Mann), Pierce Farren
Yellow Card :
Sholing : Ryan Gosney; Kevin Brewster, James Davis (Lewis Kelly), Dean Faithfull, Dan Miller, Barry Mason, Jamie Bulpitt, Alex Sawyer (Nick Yeomans), Marvin McLean, Byron Mason, Doug Rowe (Owen Roundell). Subs not used : Dan Mason, Lee Webber
Yellow Card : Jamie Bulpitt, Byron Mason, Marv McLean
Attendance : 30-ish (15 Sholing Fans)
Man of the Match : James Davis
Referee : Derek Pratt Assistants: Paul Hicks & Rob Crook
Team News: Dean Faithfull and Kevin Brewster returned in defence for the Boatmen, Dan Mason wasn't risked and took a place on the bench after picking up a knock at the weekend. James Davis at left back returned to his former club.
In an even start to the game in front of a sparse crowd, the hosts had the first sight of goal, although all Zak Mouland could do was tamely shoot straight at Gosney. However, Sholing soon took a grip on proceedings and Byron Mason got in behind on a couple of occasions, but each time, couldn't force the ball past the spralling keeper, with Lymington hacking clear. Marv McLean had a good chance when he was played through by Sawyer, but his attempt on goal as he cut infield from the left beat the keeper, but rolled just past the far post.
Dean Faithfull then had a strong header hacked off the line as Sholing continued to dominate the first half and finally got our reward on 39 minutes. Luke Ansell’s rushed backpass never had enough distance, with ALEX SAWYER latching onto it and then rounding the goalkeeper to pass the ball into the open goal. HT 0-1
Boatmen ‘keeper Gosney was called into action almost immediately in the second half, as he had to block a point blank effort following a Lymington corner. Sholing were to threaten once again as Sawyer headed wide from 15 yards, before a teasing Brewster free-kick from the right evaded everybody and almost found the far corner. Sawyer once again stung the palms of Williamson, who was up quickly to deny Byron Mason with an excellent double-save.
Then the turning point of the game on 64 minutes, that got the home team back in the game and left the Sholing players fuming.
A free-kick wasn’t cleared and in the chaos that followed, the ball was headed back into the area to an offside-looking Tim Stephenson. The left-back took the ball and slotted past Gosney, didn't celebrate, instead looked straight to the linesman. The linesman just stood there, didn't raise a flag, but confered with the referee, who then gave the goal to the disbelief of Sholing.
The remainder of the 90 minutes was a scrappy and tetchy affair, with neither side able to create much and Sholing not taking advantage of a number of set-piece deliveries into the box. FT 1-1
Extra-time carried on in the same vein, nothing in the way of clear chances and Lymington hacking every ball upfield or into touch and seemingly not in a hurry to get on with the game or go for a winner, so we went to the lottery of penalties. FT AET 1-1
Both sides missed their first kick as both Williamson and Gosney made excellent saves to the left-hand corner. And while Gosney went on score his spot-kick, Lymington were not to miss any of their remaining four penalties, whilst Byron's saved effort, sadly, proved decisive. PENALTIES 4-3
Report by Jack Prentice (Edited by Ollie Harvey)
View from the Stands: Seems that Lymington are to be Sholing's bogey side this season and they gained some revenge for losing to us on Penalties last season. Unfortunately, the Lymington goal was the main talking point and I think when a person as sportsmanlike & mild mannered as Kev Brewster is fuming at the decision... that probably shows what a shocker it was. But it's done and we had plenty of the game left to get a winner, but didn't show enough invention to threaten their well defended goal.
Time for a little rant... Is it beyond the control of Football Associations & Leagues to have the same rules for all non-league competitions? Some go straight to penalties, some to extra time then pens, some to a replay, some to a replay after extra-time. Why not one rule for all Non League Cup Comps? (or at least Step 5, 6 & 7). Considering this game finished at 10:35pm, there was at least 35 minutes travelling time to get home and remembering that the majority of players at this level, have work the next morning. Plus even a few fans left the game during extra-time, then perhaps straight to penalties after 90 mins would be the common sense choice? Rant over.
Next home game is on Saturday against Bemerton Heath Harlequins in the Wessex Prem. 3pm.