Author: James Mclean

SHOLING KLASS ABOVE ROBINS

For the first time since the start of November, Sholing emerged victorious at home, and in some fashion against Evesham. Two of the three goals were scored by players who have only recently signed on the dotted line.

Sholing’s Vinnie Tume continued his revolutionary start to life on the south coast by linking up with Brad Targett to threaten within seconds of the first whistle.

It was another new arrival, Michael Klass, who put Sholing ahead in just two minutes, sending his effort from outside the box, through a sea of players, and past Alex Harris, only after an initial offside call due to the deflection was overturned.

Sholing’s transfers were proven astute once more, as Tommy-Lee Higgs also got his name on the scoresheet, cutting in from the left and finding a home to give the Boatmen a 2-0 lead to take into the break.

The lead went to three ten minutes into the second half, thanks to the head of Joe Rabbets, who ran in quick to convert a cross from the other side of the pitch.

It took until the 63^rd minute for Dec McCarthy to be tested, the strike from Aaron Heap, was at a comfortable height for him to make the save.

Heap’s effort was the closest Evesham got to reclaiming some pride, and there was very little that could be taken away from a superb Sholing performance.

ALFA-ROBINS SINK BOATMEN

Sholing suffered their first home defeat of the season against a much better Bracknell side, for whom, Ody Alfa’s goal was enough.

For the exception of a few early chances that their defences were equal to, the two keepers could’ve got a deck chair out and read a newspaper.

It remained that way until the 11^th minute, and it was Dec McCarthy in the Sholing goal that was sent sprawling, thanks to Ody Alfa finishing off a lovely drive from Giovanni McGregor, into the bottom corner.

A series of duels between Michael Folivi and the Bracknell defence then ensued, an acrobatic save from Zaki Oualah and the post kept the Robins one up, and Ethan Burden’s dignity intact, after Folivi had his way with him.

Bracknell were ready for Sholing to be quick out of the blocks for the second half, making sure chances for the Boatmen continued to be few and far between.

The away side simultaneously kept their own box clear, while making sure the other end was being constantly challenged. Only the knees of Dec McCarthy kept Seb Bowerman from doubling the lead.

The two captains, Bowerman and Jake Hesketh, got each other in the book after a tangle, as Bowerman claimed he was kicked, but it looked as though Hesketh went to swing for the ball as the Bracknell skipper sent it away.

The Robins could have easily got a late second, but their work was done.

FIVE-STAR BOATMEN OVERCOME CRUSADERS

For the second season in a row, Sholing scored at will at home against Hungerford, though they did have to take the lead back twice.

thanks to Vinny Tume being able to turn in from a tight angle, after it seemed he had done too much, Sholing took the lead 12 minutes in.

Once again, the Boatmen came up against a former friend, this time, Fabio Lopes, who got the last touch past Dec McCarthy to draw his new side level.

Folivi got his goal to take the advantage back, and into the break, but only after Jake McCarthy’s rabona put him through.

The visitors drew first blood in the second period, levelling again when Harry Williams got a foot to a cross, and the momentum of both combined was enough to beat McCarthy.

Minimal time had passed when a mistimed challenge within eighteen yards allowed Folivi to reinstate the lead once more.

Their fourth came not long after, Jake McCarthy got a goal of his own, dispossessing the back line and lobbing Hungerford keeper, Jenson Kilroy.

Diamond Edwards kept things interesting, capitalizing on indecision in the defence, and finding the roof of the net, taking the score to 4-3.

Jake McCarthy fired hard and low, getting his second to give Sholing back the lead, taking their tally to five, finally burying the visitors.

Having lost this fixture last season, Sholing took a point off Hanwell at home, with credit again going to Michael Folivi, whose 57^th minute strike kept their loss column empty.

Much to the annoyance of the Boatmen faithful, it was their goalmouth that was the busiest in the infancy. To add fuel to the fire, Gianni Critchlow, who started the season in red and white, was key.

If not for the fingertips of Craig King, Kameron English would’ve given the Geordies the lead. Moments later, Michael Folivi was denied at the other end.

Crichlow got under his old employer’s skin once more, earning former teammate, Bradley Targett, not in their first meeting of the day, a word with the referee.

Hanwell keeper, Sam Beasant, repaid his defence with several top class saves as the half ended.

The visitors went ahead mere minutes into the second period, Daniel Carr found a bit of room and sent a thunderbolt straight into the top left corner.

 Beasant tried to get Folivi cautioned, but the official made very clear to those in attendance that he felt there was no contact.

Folivi got revenge by finally breaching the Hanwell back line, sliding in the equaliser. He had two more chances in quick succession to turn the game around.

The Geordies came very close to snatching all three points at the death, after a crossbar-bound free kick, but it ended all square.

 Despite losing a man early, Dan Mason and Reece Wylie fired Sholing to dramatic 3-2 victory over Weymouth

After huge pressure in the Weymouth box, Dan Mason capitalised on an opening in the defence which left Ben Clarke stranded and Sholing leading, 16 minutes in.

Courtesy of Harry Taylor’s sending off for a handball in the box, Jake McCarthy sent King the wrong way from twelve yards to level matters.

The pain worsened for the Boatmen as Michael Folivi, scorer of over twenty goals last season, had to leave the field for Gianni Crichlow, Sholing’s second first half change.

The momentum going into the break fell the way of the Terras, who took the lead with after Rueben Reid’s free header from inside the box found it’s way into the Sholing net.

Crichlow created all the excitement for the home fans in the early part of the second half, but the net wasn’t found.

After Weymouth had scuppered several chances to make it three, Reece Wylie took it upon himself to smash a left footed half volley into the top corner, earning his side a deserved leveller.

Sholing sensed there was another goal in the tie for them and in the absence of Folivi, Mason took the mantle and scored his second of the game, turning the game on its head with less than ten minutes to go and the points were theirs.

Available In Non League Paper

FOLIVI CAUSES ROBINS COLLAPSE

Sholing can once again thank Michael Folivi for turning the scoreline upside down to secure victory after conceding first against Bracknell.

Bracknell’s Ethan Burden had a baptism of fire for a start, first picking up a caution for a late challenge on Romeo Akinola and then failing to stop him and Billie Busari.

Spencer Spurway had a great start to the game and continued it by cutting out a certain goal after Sebastian Bowerman had rounded Patrick Nash but the Robins’ made good as Gabriel George headed home on 13 minutes from the proceeding corner.

Spurway didn’t let the fact that the visitors had taken the lead deter him, getting his elbows out, literally it seemed as Jordan Esprit took a breather beside the goal.

Darryl Harrison tangled with Reece Wylie and at the expense of a booking, Blaise Riley Snow made sure he didn’t get away with it.

The Boatmen started the second half by drawing level, once again thanks to the magic  Michael Folivi as he delivered a sublime overhead kick, peeled his shirt off and hurdled towards his bench who were out with open arms.

Sholing took over following the goal, a header from Dan Mason forced Michael Eacott to quickly dive to his right and to his credit managed to get a good hand to it.

As injury time approached, Folivi won and converted a late penalty that won the game for Sholing.

Non League Paper

Sholing were barely challenged in their solid 2-0 victory over Taunton, the only problem being from their own doing as keeper, Patrick Nash, didn’t see out the 90 minutes.

The Taunton goal was the first to be challenged, Jake Hesketh and Daniel Mason combining to allow Mason, while being dragged, to head just past Josh Gould’s post.

 A huge defensive blunder left Gould slightly embarrassed, it provided an open goal for Mason to score the first of the game.

Handbags were briefly thrown between Jake Hesketh and Ryan Cainey, both got their names in the book.

Michael Folivi converted a penalty late in the first period, giving Sholing a two-goal lead going into the break.

Taunton’s defensive stability didn’t improve in the infancy of the second period, Sholing had much of the attacking presence.

The linesman was having his own fun at the expense of Gould, after dismissing a claim that Folivi was within ten yards as he lined up for a goal kick, a notable smile appeared on his face.

A hitch on the home sides performance was that Sholing keeper, Patrick Nash collided with Christopher Zebroski, but because he was the last man, he was given his marching orders and Joe Rabbets was forced to fill in.

In all honesty, the red card was the most exciting part of a rather poor second half as Sholing survived the late scare and won.