Dorchester Town 1 – 1 Sholing

So Close…

A perfect Sholing performance for the handful of loyal fans, who had made the trip down the coast, for a windy encounter against the form side in the league ends in more last minute heartbreak.

The home side had the kick off and both sides started with intensity. Blasie Riley Snow eventually won the ball through the spine of the home side and rushed forward, switching over to Benny Reed. Riley snow and Fabio lopes combined in midfield for more good work from sholing on the wing although pass from lopes which aimed for Folivi was eventually cut out.Another home attack was stopped, Byron Mason claimed a bouncing ball which he duly sent back from where it came, thanks to pressure from harry taylor who pressured Gwengwe into giving possession away.

Taylor was involved again, waiting for a loose ball to drop and began running towards midfield riding challenges from both Dorchester frontmen before drawing a free kick. With credit to Reece Wylie, Fabio Lopes had a clear path to goal and the following attempt got direction but a little too much power meant it sailed over the bar. The Boatmen looked to be in once again thanks to a great interception from Jake Hesketh who ran at the Dorchester right back but a foot from the tracking centre half took it beyond Benny reed.

Byron Mason slid in to prevent a cut in on the left side from Dorchester number 10 Shaquille Gwengwe. Sensing our defensive prowess, the home side began to revert to prefering to control midfield, not creating many clear cut chances. Sholing can thank Blasie Riley Snow who was always there to regain any astray passes in midfield to stop anyone from the home eleven getting to it.Byron was unlucky to lose the ball after out jumping the opposing striker, but it allowed the home side to work with space on the left side. The ensuing cross left the striker to attempt a volley at a tight angle but Harry threw himself at it.

After dorchester winger Matt Buse and Brad tangled, Buse looked to pull ball back into play with his arms, nothing was given and Gwengwe was put through again, Nash was out quickly to stop ball finding the free man at the other post.Reece Wylie was clattered into on the edge of the area, despite protests play went with Gwengwe picking up the ball and sprinted towards Nash but Byron seemed to be out for revenge as he firmly but fairly knocked him off the ball.

Unfortunately the new Sholing arrival Dan Wishart had to come off on debut after going down with what looks like a leg muscle injury after sending it up towards dorchester goalmouth. On the half time buzzer- Lopes cooly put through folivi whose trickery creates space for himself on the right and he curls into the keepers left netting, giving us the lead. 

HT 0 – 1

From the Sholing kick off , Dorchester started the second half eager to make up for going behind. Harry Hutchinson was allowed to run down the wing, having to settle for corner after a Benny interception. Folivi and Lopes were together again in a role reversal but Lopes choses to pass to Blasie whose shot forces defender Ollie Haste  to give himself a headache which will be felt tomorrow.Folivi found himself open once more and stung the keepers gloves who was unable to keep hold of it. At the other end Nash sprawled at full stretch to get a hand to cut out a Dorchester cross.

Despite handball calls from the home side after a courageous abdomen block, Riley snow began a run but looses the ball although he recovered to scupper any chance of a counter attack. The Linesman didnt make himself popular with the Sholing faithful after denying a Hesketh chance as Folivi was given offside though it looked like he didnt touch the ball. Folivi got nothing but his name in the book for dissent. 

Substitute DDan Mason split the defence , riding challenges before colliding with the centre half which released the ball back into the open. After a puzzling 10 minutes of extra time were declared, the home side seemed to get a second wind and pushed almost their entire team up.

In literally the last kick of the game an innocuous ball took a deflect which was sent bouncing past Nash. The goalscorer celebrated as if it was a magnificent solo effort, running to the corner flag with his shirt off. It was only an equaliser