Poole Town 0-3 Sholing

Scorers :  Jake Hesketh 45+4, Lee Wort 65, Dan Mason 90+4

Date: Saturday 23 March 2024, 3pm – Southern League Premier South

Venue: Black Gold Stadium   Attendance: 603

Poole Town: Lloyd Thomas, Harry Hutchinson, Joshua Staunton, Jamie Whisken ©, Lindsay Zouma (Jake Scrimshaw 65), Harvey Wright, Harvey Slade, Toby Holmes, Alefe Santos (Cameron Murray 45), Billy Lowes (Kaya Tshaka 78), Wes Fogden.   Unused Subs : Luke Nippard, Max Evans

Sholing : Ryan Gosney, George Milner-Smith, Marv McLean, Owen Roundell, Byron Mason ©, Charlie Davis, Jake Hesketh (Alex MacAllister 73), Opi Edwards (Leon Baker 62), Dan Mason, Lee Wort, Billy Stedman (Dan Miller 84). 

Booked : George Milner-Smith, Jake Hesketh, Opi Edwards

Man of the Match : Billy Stedman

Sholing got a morale boosting win to complete the double over Poole Town this season.  A first half added time goal by Jake Hesketh gave the team an injection of confidence and two further goals by Lee Wort & Dan Mason secured a big 3 points.

Team News : Brad Targett & Jake Flannigan were suspended and Keane Anderson missed out through injury.  New signings, Billy Stedman & Opi Edwards went straight into the team, occupying either flank.

It was only our second game in 4 weeks, but it was a bright start from the Boatmen, with Billy Stedman showing his quality and close control on the right wing with some mazy dribbles, but neither side were creating a goalscoring opportunity.  That was really no surprise as both sides were amongst the lowest scorers in the current form table.

It was the home side who had the first sight of goal on 28 minutes, Toby Holmes was played in behind and as Gos came out he lifted the ball beyond him, but wide of the post.  Then Holmes was denied by a reflex save by Gosney at the base of his near post.

Lee Wort had the ball in the back of the net, but the linesman's flag had gone up.  The first half was a reflection of two teams struggling for form and every cliche in the book was screaming that the first goal would be crucial.

Into added time and JAKE HESKETH got the breakthrough, starting and finishing a slick move. Hesk released Marv on the left who found Billy Stedman in the box and his neat cut back was met by a first time shot by the arriving Jake that went through the keeper's legs, for his first goal for the club and such a vital one.  HT 0-1

Wes Fogden scooped a close range effort over the bar as Poole looked to hit back, but Sholing were looking comfortable and defending strongly.  Byron was a calming presence in the heart of defence and George & Owen were getting in some good tackles as the whole team worked hard to keep themselves in front.

On 65 minutes, it was a sight that Sholing fans had seen many times before, but this LEE WORT goal felt extra good as it gave us a cushion and got Worty back on the goal train.  A brilliant first time pass by Hesketh released Wort in the left channel to run at the defence, cut to his right and arrow a shot low past the keeper and into the far corner before celebrating with the Boatmen fans in the stand.

The nearest Poole got to a fightback was when a player beat Gos in the air to head over him towards the empty net, but Leon Baker did superb to get back and somehow head over the bar.  Apart from that, it was a comfortable conclusion to the game for Sholing and with Poole pushing right up, we were repeatedly breaking away on them.

In added time, another breakaway saw Alex MacAllister bring the ball forward and slip a perfectly weighted pass into DAN MASON on his right to fire back past the keeper for his 16th goal of the season.  A great win that the team shared with the supporters after the final whistle.   FT 0-3

Next Game : Hanwell Town v Sholing - Tuesday 26 March 7:45pm - Southern Premier

Photos courtesy of DB Photography, swipe to view pics :