MATCH REPORT | Tadley Calleva vs Sholing

Tadley Calleva returned to winning ways on a cold Tuesday night at Barlows Park, as they defeated Wessex Premier Division leaders Sholing one-nil.

Danny Dolan made a few changes to the team that lost to Bashley at the weekend. Abrams, Charsley, Denham and Alliston came in for Walsh, Nurse, Parfitt and Coventry.

It took twenty minutes for the match to see it’s first real opportunity. There was a good piece of interplay down the Sholing right-hand side, with the ball played to Dan Mason, the front man’s shot straight at Sean O’Brien.

The away side then had a golden chance to go ahead. A corner from the left-hand side fell to Cuthbertson, after a scramble on the six-yard line, but the full-back missed the ball and the danger was cleared.

Just minutes later it was Dallimore’s turn to try and score. Thomas swung in the ball from the left-hand side with the centre-half meeting it at the back post, but his effort went wide.

But this miss became minor as Brett Denham received the ball on the edge of the Sholing half. The front-man dribbled past three players, slotting it home with his left foot to put Tadley ahead in the tie.

After the break, Tadley worked the first opportunity. A deep cross on the left-hand side from Hamilton was met by the goal scorer Denham, but his header went just over the bar.

Sholing were then awarded a corner, that was floated in from the right side, but Mason’s header went just wide of the mark.

Denham then had an opportunity for Tadley but his shot was saved well by O’Donnell. Another chance arose for the striker but Adam Alliston’s cross just evaded him, after the winger was sent free down the left-hand side.

Then, there was a moment of drama. A driving run into the box by a Sholing player saw Abrams commit a foul and concede a penalty, giving the away side an avenue back into the game. But to save any blushes, Sean O’Brien saved Dan Mason’s spot kick low to his left-hand side, keeping out the re-bound from the striker following in also.

As Cameron George replaced Brett Denham, Sholing had a flurry of chances. The first saw a cross float into the back stick with Miller putting the header just wide. Tadley then had two near misses with Abrams and Dallimore making goal saving blocks to ensure the sheet remained clean.

As the game got to added time, a red card was issued by the referee. Pete Castle went in two footed and studs up on winger Connor Thorne, ensuring an early shower for the player. The Tadley man was carried off the pitch, replaced by Harry Pearson, but the match ended with the home side progressing to the next round of the league cup.

Starting XI:

O’Brien, Abrams, Dallimore, Charsley, Thomas, Nicholls, Vickers, Hamilton, Thorne, Alliston, Denham.

Subs:

Coventry, George (On for Denham), Parker, Pearson (On for Thorne), Phillips.

Attendance:

127