Sholing FC to welcome AFCB Development squad

I had to quickly re-write the AFCB Development squad preview as the Echo kindly informed fans that the pitch at Testwood was causing problems and AFC Totton would not be able to host the planned game. So it is Sholing FC - the so called 'boatmen' who will take on the Cherries Development squad tonight at the Silverlake Arena. 

Up until 2010 they were the Vosper Thorneycroft FC club and last season they had a promotion from the Wessex League premier Division and won the FA Vase.

The AFCB Development squad had a big 0-4 win at Wimborne Town last time out and they are seeking to build on that result when they visit Sholing FC. Sholing play in the same Calor Division One Southern league as AFC Totton and Wimborne Town and the Silverlake Arena is their ground which has a capacity of 1000.

Winger Marvin McLean has just signed for Sholing. Barry Mason and Lee Wort are the lead strikers. Mason is now 29 and was on AFCB's books in the past as well as Salisbury City. Byron Mason, 27, in midfield is the captain. During July Sholing have won three games and drawn one. Their last match was a 0-2 away win at Godalming Town. They have also recently beaten Gosport Borough and Guernsey FC.

The AFCB squad should be made up of U21 players for this game. For AFCB it will not be Josh O'Hanlon who sets the pitch alive though as he has joined Poole Town on a month's loan, but Aly Coulibaly is likely to play perhaps with Jayden Stockley (although he was in the squad at Portsmouth yesterday) who were among the goal scorers at Wimborne. Harrison Gilkes also netted for AFCB last time out. Stephen Purches sounded very pleased that Sholing FC were able to come in late to give the Development players another match at such short notice.