Sholing 0-0 AFC Totton

Date: Tuesday 17 October, 7:45pm – Southern League Premier South

Venue: Imperial Homes Stadium Attendance: 409

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, Brad Targett, Jake Adams, Jake Flannigan (Charlie Wagstaffe 63), Owen Roundell, Charlie Davis, Lloyd Isgrove, Byron Mason ©, Dan Mason, Jake Cope (Keane Anderson 85), Marv McLean. Unused subs : Rob Flooks, Adam Payce, Pete Castle

Bookings : Brad Targett, Jake Adams, Jake Flannigan, Byron Mason, Marv McLean, Charlie Wagstaffe

AFC Totton : Lewis Noice, Jordan Ragguette, Mike Carter © (Benny Read 24), Charlie Kennedy, Luke Hallett, Adam Tomasso, Scott Rendell (Remus Nixon 76), Ethan Taylor, Jordan Chiedozie (Matt Burrows 59), Sam Magri, Leon Maloney. Unused subs : Joseph Oastler, Alfie Stanley

Bookings : Charlie Kennedy, Ethan Taylor, Benny Read

Man of the Match : Owen Roundell

In Dave Diaper's penultimate game as manager, the Boatmen fought to a goalless draw with local rivals AFC Totton.

Team News : Wayne Robinson served a one match suspension & Jake Hesketh missed out through injury. Was a bit too early for Dan Miller, but he's close to a return. Charlie Wagstaffe returned from injury to the bench and he was joined in the dugout by new signing, Keane Anderson, a midfielder who has joined us on loan from Aldershot Town.

It was Totton who made the better start to the game and they would go on to dominate both possession and chances in a scrappy first half. On 13 minutes, Ethan Taylor weaved into the box and it opened up for shot on goal, but Gos did excellently to get down to his left and push the ball round the post.

Former Boatmen and now Totton's captain, Mike Carter, had to go off injured after 24 minutes as the game remained fixed inside the Sholing half. Our only venture into the visitors penalty area came from a freekick that was plucked out the air by the keeper.

Flow of the game wasn't helped by several stoppages for treatment and there wasn't much to warm the crowd on a chilly night, but Gosney got his palms stung by a well struck shot from Maloney, but overall, Sholing defended well as the half time whistle. HT 0-0

Charlie Davis won and took a freekick 25 yards from goal. He got his shot over the wall, but it was a comfortable save by Noice. The referee showed his first yellow of the night for a late challenge by Flannigan and was to go on and book 8 more players, a couple of them deserved, but most the cards were a bit harsh.

Jimmy Ball brought on Matt Burrows and he had an instant impact down the right wing, firstly firing a low cross that Gosney pushed away from danger, but from a similar position, Burrow's cross found Ethan Taylor at the far post, but with a good chunk of the goal to aim at, he fired over from 8 yards.

The game had suddenly sprung to life and it was Sholing's turn to create a great chance when a low ball in from the right by Jake Cope took the visitors defence by surprise and found Lloyd Isgrove in the 6 yard box, but he didn't get the contact he wanted and the ball spun up and went agonisingly wide of the post in slow-motion.

It was more end to end for the final 20 minutes of the game, but without a cutting edge by either side as both defences worked hard to keep a cleansheet. In stoppage time, Boatmen had two opportunities to put a freekick into the box, but neither time could find a player in red & white as the game ended a stalemate. FT 0-0

Dave Diaper : "I thought a draw was a fair reflection of the game although Totton bossed the game in the first half and Gos kept us in the game with two excellent saves. We went into the break knowing that we would need to be braver on the ball and work the ball better to try and penetrate the Totton defence. We started to control the game for a brief spell in the second half and nearly scored when Izzy went close, but both sides lacked that clinical finish and the game petered out to a draw, which probably suited us more than Totton."

"I would also like to thank Jimmy Ball and all at Totton for the presentation made to me after the game"

Next Game : Sholing v Hungerford Town - Saturday 21 Oct 3pm - Southern Prem

Photos courtesy of EspieJaz, swipe to view pics :