Author: James Mclean

WYLIE HITS AS TUME WRAPS IT UP IN HARD BOATMEN WIN

GOALS from Reece Wylie and Vinnie Tume made Gabriel Billington’s not enough to keep Tiverton in the Southern Premier South.

Tiverton’s Jacob Wellington had a wild first few minutes, his shot from the edge of box flying over the bar, before a throw-in by him came back out, to be thrown by Sholing’s Sam Magri.

That was forgotten just past the ten minute mark, when Billington put the visitors ahead from just outside the box, finding a gap to Jack Turner’s left.

Sholing levelled on the eve of the half hour. An indirect free-kick from Wylie, which found the roof of the net, after a deflection, beating the wall, despite those in it jumping as high as possible.

As the half-time whistle blew, the situation was clear; unless Tivvy could find at least one more goal for no reply, they would drop into step four of non-league.

The second half saw Michael Folivi almost made the task impossible, but pressure from Liam Cartwright made the advertising boards the recipient of the header.

Folivi was then pulled back upon entering the area, the referee gave nothing, causing outrage among Boatmen players and fans.

It did become mission impossible for Tiverton with 15 minutes to go, thanks to Tume converting on the turn to John-Morgan Ross’ right.

That was the last key moment, as the full time whistle blew and Tiverton were down, and Sholing within three points of fourth place.

Folkestone Invicta 1 – 2 Farnham Town

Credit: Farnham Town FC

In a battle of two promoted sides, goals from Owen Dean and Rakish Bingham either side of Joe Piggot’s equaliser, Farnham had three points to celebrate on the near 100-mile journey back from Folkestone after victory against Folkestone Invicta.

Just six minutes in, a knock back from Sam Evans to Darryl Sanders prompted the latter to send a long ball up the field to Dean. The attacker opted not to try and get round the defender, on the right side of the pitch, and instead chose to take an effort from millimeters outside the box which found the roof of the net.  

Sanders and Dean then linked up again around the area. This time it was Sanders who had an effort from outside 18 yards from the other side, but it struck Ted Collins knee. Billy Clifford then came in to try and put the parry in, however he shot it straight at the Folkestone keeper.

Then came the turn of the man who started the attack that gave The Town the lead in Evans. Down the left side of the area, he sent his man away before striking a left-footed shot that was patted away from Collins. Evans looked to have been involved in doubling the lead when Clifford turned his delivery into an open goal but the flag quickly went up.

The second half kicked off a wave of chances for the hosts. The biggest up to that point came from Devonte West, who picked up a backheel inside the Farnham half and then got all the way into the box before being beaten by the rushing Mike Eacott. Opportunities for Folkestone continued, and every time he was called upon, Eacott was equal.

The equaliser did arrive as Folkestone, specifically Piggot, was able to convert into the open goal presented to him by Jamie Fielding’s cross across the face of goal which found him coming in on the right.

Sanders and Dean were key to Farnham regaining the lead. The former sent it out to the latter, who was on the left wing. Dean got the ball into the box to Bingham, whose first touch forced him to turn around, but it was little issue for him as he managed to find, on his weaker foot, Collins’ top left corner.

The win takes Farnham to an unbeaten streak of four games, and only having suffered one defeat in the last six games, which came at the end of August in a 4-2 loss when hosting Billericay Town. The form sees The Town now occupy ninth place in the National League South.

HAT-TRICK HERO HIGGS BREAKS THE CURFEWS

SHOLING secured a crushing victory over their play-off rivals, thanks to three from Tommy-Lee Higgs, and a masterclass in chance creation from Vinnie Tume. The Boatmen now sit fifth in the table.

Tume, In his first home league game for Sholing since returning from a trial at Ipswich, was involved in the opening goal, turning provider for Higgs to find Wynne-Robert’s bottom right corner.

He was there again to contribute to the second goal. Despite initially missing the cross, a shot from Folivi saw Tume get enough of a touch on the ground to give Brad Targett the opportunity to fire home.

Higgs got his double, thanks to a great 1-2 with James Roberts, that left the Chertsey defence really struggling, Wynne-Roberts exposed, and the net found once more, as Sholing took a three-nil lead into half time.

Moments into the second half, Higgs secured his third, this time, it was all his own work to find the corner to Wynne-Roberts’ left.

Chertsey’s Luke Robertson was lucky not to see red, instead seeing yellow, for a rough tackle on Reece Wylie, despite Gary Abisogun protests. Wylie was quick to get revenge and took down Abisogun in much the same fashion.

The perfect day from a Sholing perspective was complete, having also kept the clean sheet, with the last Curfew attacks screaming of desperation. The only upsetting part was that Tume didn’t get a deserved goal of his own.

FOLIVI BRACE PROVES VITAL

For the second consecutive game at home at the Mortgage Decisions Stadium, Sholing survived a late scare, and earned a 4-2 victory. This time, it came courtesy of Reece Wylie, Dan Mason, and a brace from Michael Folivi.

After a period of pressure from the visitors, it was at the other end where the deadlock was broken. The ball fell to Michael Folivi just inside the box, he turned, rounded a couple of defenders and looped it into the roof of net.

In the last moments of the first half, Reece Wylie launched a lob from around the halfway line, Isaac Finch couldn’t get back in time, and Sholing took a two goal advantage into the break.

The second half saw the visitors get back in the game when Ben Seymour was left with so much space at the far post, even after taking a few seconds to get his shot off, he pulled Taunton back into the game.

Folivi got his second in an act of justice, after Dan Mason’s shirt was pulled in the box as he was lining up for a shot, and after several follow ups were blocked.

Dylan Jones reduced the lead once more with five minutes to go. However, soon after, Dan Mason beat Finch to the ball, leaving the goal open for Sholing’s number nine to win the points, and Finch flat on his back outside the box.

Sholing 4 -2 Plymouth Parkway

Folivi bags hat-trick as Boatmen sink Parkway

Thanks to a Michael Folivi hat-trick, Sholing survived another late scare, as his three goals helped render the two from Plymouth Parkway null and void.

Sholing lost the toss and were made to play into the sun. Reece Wylie didn’t mind as he began a solo run into the box, but unfortunately nobody was there to meet the cross.

Parkway keeper, Luke McCormick, then presented Folivi with an easy chance, and the Sholing ace found the corner.

After tangling with Jenson Ireland, Folivi won a shot from twelve yards, found the same corner and doubled the advantage which Sholing took into the break, leaving Ireland with his head in his shirt.

The hat-trick was secured with the second half very young, Folivi was rewarded for his first two with a tap in.

For the next 15 minutes, it was Plymouth that had the chances, but more often than not, they were restricted to having to take audacious shots from distance.

Ryan Brett tried a volley millimetres from goal but it was beaten away by Magnus Norman. He made good with his head seconds later from the proceeding corner, putting his side back in the game.

Parkway sub, William Sullivan, quickly made it 3-2, converting into an open goal.

Sholing’s fears of another late collapse were put to rest when Jake McCarthy found McCormick’s left hand corner, which was enough for the points.

The Tigers fight back for a draw at Sholing

Sholing were minutes away from a huge win against their play-off rivals, but after conceding in the dying moments for the third consecutive league game, they sit two points off the top five.

11 minutes in, Gloucester’s early dominance resulted in King Baidoo striking the post, but making Magnus Norman move.

After Morgan Lewis wrestled the ball back, Aaron Wildig had a clear sight of goal, before a Sholing foot took it off course.

Jake Hesketh and Boatmen joint-manager, Paul Doswell, weren’t pleased when the skipper was booked, despite looking to have won the ball.

That was all the action in the first half, with a goal yet to be found.

Sholing began the second half on top. Jake McCarthy attempted to lob Jared Thompson, it seemed Thompson hadn’t punched it away enough as it came back down, but got away with it.

At the same time Brad Targett was protesting that the ball crossed the line from the latest Boatmen attack, Joe Rabbets accidentally hit Elis Watts in the face with the ball, from point blank range.

It had gone over when Thompson was left helpless, staring to his right corner, as James Roberts celebrated his second strike in as many games.

However, there was late agony again for the home side. Norman made his goal as wide as possible, but Kieran Phillips couldn’t miss, as the points were shared.

BOATMEN TRIUMPH

In a game overshadowed by a serious head injury suffered by Yate’s Oli Jenkins, long range efforts from Jake McCarthy and Blaise Riley-Snow saw Sholing past Yate Town.

Just 15 minutes in, the mood became sombre as Jenkins was knocked unconscious after colliding with the turf. It forced an ambulance and a break in play that wouldn’t see the game restart until ten minutes past four.

10 minutes into the restart, McCarthy, from distance, flicked and volleyed his side into the lead.

Vinnie Tume looked to have given Tommy-Lee Higgs an open goal to grab a second, but Aaron Sainsbury bravely resisted.

Higgs almost made up for it, getting past several Yate players before being brought down as the first half ended an hour later than planned.

The second half began at 5pm. McCarthy had a chance to score a second from much the same distance from goal as his first but found the field outside the stadium.

Substitute Michael Folivi created an even better chance to double the lead. He took too long and it fell into the hands of Sainsbury.

The second eventually arrived, and again it was from outside 18 yards. A first time shot from Riley-Snow was the reason.

As great as the goals from Sholing that gave them three points were, it’s important to note that the Yate players probably weren’t in the greatest of headspaces after what had happened earlier.

CLARK SPOT ON AGAIN AS STOKE SINK THE BOATMEN

Sholing once again fell foul of a James Clark penalty at home to Basingstoke. This time it contributed to a painful defeat for the Boatmen that seriously hurts their play-off hopes.

Basingstoke made good on winning the toss. Less than 10 minutes in, James Clark scored his second penalty in as many league visits to the Mortgage Decisions Stadium, after George Reid was pushed over by Harry Taylor.

Robbie Gallagher was provided with an open goal by Tom Blake, he couldn’t and didn’t miss, giving his side a 2-0 lead.

Sholing then got a turn from the spot, Reece Wylie being caught by the outstretched foot of Rudy Allen, Michael Folivi stepped up and pulled one back.

The visitors’ two goal advantage was restored right on the half-time whistle, skipper Billy Upton rose highest from the corner. It was a deserved reward for first-half domination.

Instead of damage limitation, Sholing decided to go big or go home for the second period, taking off Sam Magri, and putting on another attacking player in Tommy-Lee Higgs.

It was Higgs who was then involved in a scuffle with Upton, after he got trapped in between the visiting captain’s legs, earning both a booking.

The Boatmen’s approach had the exact opposite effect they had intended. Reid got on the scoresheet, slotting into Dec McCarthy’s exposed left-hand corner, the Sholing keeper unable to get hold of the ball, helping secure a huge win for Basingstoke.

Higgs earns Boatmen victory

Off the back of goals from both the old and new guard, Sholing overcame being pegged back to claim a second consecutive home win.

Sholing bossed possession in the first 10 minutes but couldn’t challenge Gerard Benfield, the closest being Jake McCarthy’s attempted overhead kick.

Brad Targett, who got his head in between the rising defenders, finally broke the deadlock after half an hour, in Sholing’s favour.

Dorchester went straight up the other end to equalise, and in some form. Jadyn Crosbie’s shot from the right went airborne and found the left-hand corner.

In the last moments of the first half, Tommy-Lee Higgs scored his second home goal in only his second home game for the club, capitalizing on slow reactions from the Dorchester defence, after Michael Folivi’s free kick was blocked, giving Sholing the half time lead.

The visitors went down to 10 men minutes into the second half, last man, and captain, Will Spetch, pulled Folivi down at neck height and was given his marching orders.

There wasn’t much in the way of clear-cut chances that followed, instead the referee became the target of both players and fans on both sides, having been faced with several big calls.

Unfortunately for Sholing, Jake Hesketh had to be substituted not long after coming on, having appeared to badly hurt his arm.

It didn’t matter in the end as Sholing survived the late push from Dorchester and gained three more points.

Though it’s a subject no footballer wants to deal with until they absolutely have to, the question of retirement creates a responsibility to pass your wisdom on to the next generation.

When that proposition arrived for Matt Le Tissier in the late 1990s and into the new century, he didn’t hesitate to do it. One of those coming through at the Dell during that time was James Beattie, who, in 1998, four years before Matt’s retirement, was arriving as a young 20-year-old all the way from Blackburn.

“I was kind of coming towards the end. I was the more senior player in the changing room”, Le Tissier said. “I tried my best to integrate the boys into the club, making them feel comfortable.”

By the time Beattie arrived, Le Tissier had lessons learned from nearly 200 goals and international experience, from midfield no less, to teach the new striker.

Beattie didn’t struggle to find his place as he earned the player of the season award at the end of his first season, thanks in no small part for his role in the famous great escape of the 1998/99 season.

From then until Le Tissier retired at the end of the first season at St Mary’s in 2002, it was Beattie who became the key goalscorer.

Speaking about his experience with Matt, Beattie said:

“I learned a lot from Matt, not just on the pitch but off it as well. He’s a fantastic person.”

“He was obviously the main character in that dressing room when I arrived. He welcomed me in, along with many others. I think he was an unbelievable player and I was lucky enough to be able to share the training ground and the pitch on matches with him at certain points.”

Despite scoring nearly 80 goals and being the club’s star player several years, Beattie feels he can’t lay a finger on the achievements of Southampton’s most famous number seven, but treasures the relationship that he does have with the fans and club:

“I will never be able to take over Matt’s mantle with the Southampton fans but hopefully with the performances I put in and the goals that I scored, a lot of fans remember that, which is nice. We’re part of the ex-Saints today, which do a lot of charity work in and around Southampton. 

“I still have a great relationship with the fan base, even though many of them weren’t even born when I was playing. Again, I reckon that’s passed on down the generations, as Tiss’ legacy would be. It’s a great club. I love the club and my affinity with the fans is as strong as ever, I think.”