Sholing 0-0 Beaconsfield Town

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

Venue: Imperial Homes Stadium  Attendance: 201

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, Brad Targett, Marv McLean, Owen Roundell, George Milner-Smith, Byron Mason ©, Charlie Davis, Jake Hesketh (Luka Chalwell 65), Dan Mason, Lee Wort, Alex MacAllister (Charlie Wagstaffe 57). Unused subs : Mathias Tepe, Noa Prestel

Yellow Card:  Owen Roundell, Jake Hesketh

Beaconsfield Town : Matt Rowley, Luke Neville ©, Jacques Kpohomouh, Dan Bradshaw, Asher Yearwood, Jake Gosling, James Dobson, Tom McElroy, Sean Fraser (Dan Roth 82), Joel Rollinson (Ada Okorogheye 66), Josh Payne.  Unused Subs : Ben Van Aurich, Sam Togwell, Tommy Dymott

Yellow Card:  Luke Neville, James Dobson

Man of the Match:  Brad Targett

It was a point apiece as the Boatmen & the Rams cancelled each other out.

Team News : Keane Anderson was suspended and Karlos Gregory was required by AFCB ahead of their FA Youth Cup tie at Spurs on Tuesday.  Lee Wort made his return to the Imperial Homes Stadium and Jake Hesketh returned to the starting line-up after recovering from injury.  There was a new face on the bench, Noa Prestel, a 20 year old defender from New Zealand, who has joined us from Weymouth FC.

On an overcast day, it was a cagey opening by both sides with the visitors having the first sight of goal as it opened up for Yearwood, but his effort lacked power to trouble Gos.  Sholing's first shot in anger came on 12 mins, Dan Mason letting fly from distance, but a deflection off a defender took the ball just wide.

Lee Wort was pulled backed by a tight offside call and then soon after he seized upon a loose ball, but the angle was very tight and he found Brad to cross into the middle where Beaconsfield scrambled it away.  The visitors had a freekick 22 yards out, but the effort was curled wide.

Heart in the mouth moment when a strong backpass flew past Gos, but thankfully wide of the near post.  Owen Roundell made a well timed covering tackle as the first half came to an end.  HT 0-0

Got the feeling that both sides felt they could now push harder for a win, so the second half provided more goalmouth incidents as the play opened up.   A defence splitting pass by Charlie Davis found Brad Targett on the overlap, his cross found Alex MacAllister, who's first time shot went agonisingly wide of the near post.

Ryan Gosney pulled off a fantastic save on 54 mins when a shot from outside the box deflected off Byron's shin making the ball dip goalwards, but Gos adjusted in midair to tip the ball over.   Hesketh was getting the usual attention from the opposition, getting wiped out in midfield, the ref waved play on as Brad cut into the box and hit a cross-cum-shot that fizzed past Wort & Marv and also the far post.

Boatmen had a spell of pressure, but the experienced and well marshalled Beaconsfield defence, who had not conceded in their previous three matches, were able to keep us at arms length.  Lee Wort tried a left foot shot as the ball sat up, but it whistled wide.

Was then the turn of the Rams to have a period of pressure and they looked to be in on the left side of the box, but a fantastically timed tackle by Brad Targett cleared the danger.  It was then the turn of Byron's telescopic legs to also make an excellent challenge inside the area. 

Okorogheye smashed a shot over for Beaconsfield when he should have done better. Down the other end, Lee Wort sniffed out some hesitation between keeper & defender to nip in and get the ball, that spun wickedly away from him, falling behind D-Dan whose scooped effort was blocked.  The last good chance to grab 3 points came when a clearing header by Beaconsfield fell to Luka Chalwell who smashed the ball into the ground and the keeper made a good reaction save.  FT 0-0

Next Game : Sholing v Walton & Hersham - Tuesday 6 Feb 7:45pm - Southern League

Photos courtesy of DB Photography, swipe to view pics :