WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 12TH NOVEMBER 2016
VERWOOD TOWN 0 SHOLING 4

Louis Coulson signed on earlier in the week partnered Liam Donachy in yet another change to our defensive back four. Dean Evans and Zac Phelps held the full back spots.

Mike Snow took up a mid field berth alongside Russ Dyer and Martin Smith leaving Aaron Atkinson Charlie Gilbert and James Bergin up top.

It needed a few minutes for the side to settle but Sholing hadn't come down to let us do that. An attack through the middle in the first minute put a runner on a one on one with Benfield. Benfield's speed off his line closed space for an angled shot. The ball skidded wide of the post.

Smith Snow and Dyer dug in. Dyer won a strong tackle and sent Gilbert free in the middle. Sholing's backs closed ranks preventing a shot.

Then a blow as Mike Snow was on the end of a robust sliding tackle and had to be stretchered off with a couple of stud holes and a deep gash just under his shin.

Sholing's pace kept Evans and Phelps busy on the flanks and with an in form Benfield in goal we had a clear score board until the 30th minute when a ball dropped in our penalty box created a melee. The ball bounced around and then literally trickled into the net. 0-1.

Shell shocked meant laxity. A deep cross and poor marking let in No. 2.

Coulson took a hard knock with a couple of minutes left but after Dan Scott's special treatment was able to play on until the whistle.

Half Time 0-2

48 minutes and the game had gone. We lost the ball in the middle and a quick break on the left finished with a low cross being swept past Benfield for goal number 3.

Benfield pulled off the save of the match on 54 minutes with a flying dive palming the ball on to the bar. Donachy followed in clearing the danger upfield.

There was a brief rally. Atkinson and Gilbert went free but the Sholing keeper didn't have to make a save as the ball whistled over the angle of bar and post.

Kimber came on for Bergin after 65 minutes.

A minute later was a tragedy. The ball was lobbed into the corner of the box and chased by Evans and a couple of Sholing players. Benfield came out quickly and the clash of bodies finished with the ball rolling free and being tapped into an empty net. 0-4

Wilkinson came on for Phelps after 74 minutes and although there was a bit of activity at both ends for a while but the game finished with an emphatic win for Sholing.

Result 0-4