James Mclean Sports

Tag: writing

  • MAJESTIC MARTYRS ON BRINK OF TITLE

    Non League Paper

    MAJESTIC MARTYRS ON BRINK OF TITLE

    On a bank holiday Friday where the weather was anything but good, Sholing did all they could but Merthyr were at their best to claim a 3-0 win that all but secures the title.

    Sholing started the aggressors and forced the Merthyr keeper, Jaimie Cogman, to come out early to cut off Michael Folivi, who was looking to round off a great team move.

    Throughout the game, the travelling fans were in full voice and made the stand behind the goal that their men were attacking their own.

    As the ten minute mark approached, Cogman had every right to have some words with his defenders, as they reacted slow to many Sholing crosses.

    On 12 minutes, Cole Jarvis gave the visitors the lead, striking just below the bar. Even if the crowd couldn’t see what happened, the Merthyr fans’ reaction behind the goal would’ve revealed the outcome.

    In the aftermath, the Boatmen were not intimidated, they quickly stabilised and began challenging once more.

     The Martyr’s lead was doubled on 35 minutes, Tom Handley being first to react to a corner and headed home.

    The hosts started the second half in the same way they started the first and it was Folivi once more, using his trademark footwork to send several defenders to the floor.

    However, also like in the first half, it was the visitors who had the first cracks at goal, the best chance came from the foot of Cole Jarvis, who aimed to get his second.

    In spite of the constant threats, the Boatmen were rock solid, determined to not let a third in, leaving their number one, Pat Nash, with little to do.

    As the clock ticked over to 70 minutes, there were no clear-cut chances for either side and the midfield was where the action was.

    That was until the 83rd minute, when Kane Simpson got the third, turning in to Nash’s near left post, which settled matters.

    Sholing did their best, but Merthyr were on their A game to gain the victory but a draw from Totton means the Martyrs’ must wait another week to claim the title.

  • Havant & Waterlooville 4 – 1 Sholing

    Four-midable Hawks outclass valiant Boatmen

    A sending off for Michael Folivi and the absence of defensive dynamo Byron Mason, lead to a frustrating derby defeat for Sholing.

    In a sunny Havant, Before and throughout the game, the fact that this was pretty close to Southampton V Portsmouth was not lost on the fans or players with all trying to wind their opposing numbers up.

    Havant utilised having the kick off and began knocking early on the Sholing door, culminating in an attempt by their main man, Ryan Seager. He only found the keys to Pat Nash’s gloves

    Nash had to be off his marks quickly to get a finger to and turn a curling header from Havant’s Alfy Wittingham past the post. Havant were persevering with crosses from the right wing, trying to capitalise on the brief space when it opened.

    Almost every time the ball came to the Havant keeper, it was quickly back up the other end, with Ben Dudzinski electing not to take on Folivi. The Boatmen were keeping Seager at bay, limiting the service that came the way of the former Saints striker. Most deliveries were closer to hitting the spectators as opposed to the net.

    The frustration from the home side, trying to put on a show for the faithful behind the net, was obvious as none of them could keep their shots down, which led to a lot of car windows fearing for their life.

    The home side were forced to resort to a set piece to take the lead, a free kick from Olly Pendlebury, the change of direction of which, once the ball was struck, allowed a hole to open to Nash’s left, which provided a home for the first goal of the game and neither side could add to it in the first half. HT 1-0

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    The second period began with Havant seemingly content with preserving rather than increasing their lead and would attempt to do so by any means necessary, even if it meant angering the referee a few times.

    Wittingham took exception to Reece Wylie and dragged him to the ground, being lucky not to receive a booking.Seager couldn’t be kept out forever and doubled the Hawks’ lead, converting into the left corner.

    Benny Read wasn’t afraid to give some back and wrestled the ball Into Sholing’s possession, he put through Hesketh and the skipper was only cut out by a diving Havant full back on the rougher part of the pitch.

    But the advantage went to three, this one bouncing in off the post from the foot of Callum Kealey. Given the gap already established, Leon Maloney took an audacious shot from

    outside the box and it went beyond Nash to add insult to injury, it seemed everything Havant touched went to gold.

    Havant didn’t have everything their own way, Romeo Akinola got involved to strip the locals off their clean sheet, giving Sholing something to push forward with and to make the scoreline more respectable. Folivi’s involvement was abruptly ended, receiving a second yellow for simulation, adding to his first which came for dissent in the first period and that was that. FT 4-1