WORT SHINES BUT DEFENCES WIN THE DAY

SHOLING 0 HAMWORTHY UNITED 0

HE may have taken charge of over 1,000 games at Sholing, but manager Dave Diaper will have still been left frustrated by his side’s inability to turn possession into victory.

The Hampshire side enjoyed by far the better of this entertaining clash of Wessex League rivals but any attempt of note were either off target or straight at Hamworthy goalkeeper Tom Rees.

Sholing started the stronger with Lee Wort going closest early on, flicking a corner kick over on seven minutes.

This was soon followed up when Wort robbed the ball off a Hamworthy defender before setting up Alex Sawyer at the edge of the area, but he forced Rees into a smart save low.

Sholing had a number of half chances in the first half, but could not test Rees enough as many shots were blocked at source by the resilient away defence.

Hamworthy had their best chance of the first half in the tenth minute when striker River Smith was put through over the top, forcing Ryan Gosney into a good save with Owen Roundell clearing the ball off the line.

Sholing followed up with their first half dominance after the interval.

Two minutes into the restart, Marvin McLean beat two defenders and ran into the box, but Rees saved his angled shot comfortably.

Hamworthy’s defence was well organised, limiting their hosts to chances from crosses and shots from range, but when Sholing did go close, Wort, Dan Mason and Lee Mason all missed the target.

Dorset side Hamworthy posed their biggest threat from long balls over the top, but the home defence comfortably cancelled this out throughout.

Sholing, though, upped the ante in the final ten minutes and perhaps shou;ld have put the tie to bed with two clear-cut chances.

First, on 85 minutes, Dan Mason cut inside and turned his marker before forcing Rees into a fine fingertip save.

Then, moments later, Jamie Bulpitt thought he’d won for the hosts but saw a shot curl just inches away from the top corner after a probing run from midfield – the final chance in what proved an entertaining FA Cup tie.