Sholing 1-3 Harrow Borough

Date: Saturday 9 March February 2024 - 3pm – Southern League Premier South

Venue: Imperial Homes Stadium  Attendance: 206

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, Brad Targett, Marv McLean, Owen Roundell, George Milner-Smith (Alex MacAllister 71), Byron Mason ©, Charlie Davis, Jake Flannigan, Dan Mason, Lee Wort (Luka Chalwell 63), Jake Hesketh (Leon Baker 60). Unused subs : Dan Miller, Fin Du Port

Boatmen went 6 games without a league win to slip further down the table after defeat by second to bottom side, Harrow Borough

Sholing started strongly, pinning the visitors back in the first 15 minutes.  Closest we came to scoring was from a Jake Hesketh shot that was saved, the keeper also denied Dan Mason and then a Brad Targett close range effort was blocked away.  Sadly, the tempo then dropped from Sholing and the attacks dried up.  To make it worse, the Boatmen were architects of our own downfall as Harrow scored two goals in quick succession.

On 34 minutes, Flannigan lost the ball in our own half and Harrow switched the ball over to the right for an angled shot to be pushed out by Gosney, but straight to Excellence Muhemba to tap home.

Three minutes later, we were 2 down. Hesketh was robbed deep in the Harrow half and the away side bombed forward with a man advantage and 3 quick passes later, Harlem Hale fired in from the overlap.

We were given a lifeline on 41 mins when a Charlie Davis freekick was headed into his own net by a Harrow player for an Own Goal.  HT 1-2

Straight from the restart, the ball found Lee Wort on the right edge of the box and his cross was flicked goalwards by Dan Mason, but was stopped by the hand of the Harrow No5. The referee said no penalty, despite his hand being away from his body and frustratingly, we've had two recent penalties against us for far less obvious handballs than that. 

That frustration then manifested itself in Jake Flannigan carelessly lunging into a 50/50 and receiving a straight red card.  

With a man advantage, Harrow were able to control the flow of the game, which was at a snails pace, not helped by the referee who took an age over every freekick.  Dan Mason headed narrowly over, but the lack of work for the Harrow keeper was demonstrated by his kit being almost spotless at the final whistle.  Harrow deservely took home the win, scoring a late penalty through Reece Mitchell to make the game an even more painful one to watch for the Sholing supporters. 

There are 10 games left and make no bones about it, we need much better performances than what we've seen recently to stop ourselves falling into the relegation zone.  Good opportunity to get the ball rolling again on Tuesday when we are at home to Hendon. We are all in this together, so let's get behind the team.   FT 1-3

Next Game : Sholing v Hendon - Tuesday 12 March 7:45pm - Southern League

Photos courtesy of DB Photography, swipe to view pics :