Stephen Purches saw his side struggle for dominance over a Sholing FC side that had offered to host the AFCB Development squad after AFC Totton's pitch was not playable. Adults paid just £5 to see the game and they will have seen Australian Jordan Holmes in goal for the Cherries and Aly Coulibay winning another appearance, while Stockley returned along with Ben Whitfield in a strong line up. Meanwhile, Stephane Zubar was back from his trial at Cambridge Utd so the side was not quite an U21 team after all.
There was not much commentary on twitter, but Aristide Bassele put the Cherries ahead before half time. More goals followed in the second half with Jayden Stockley registering a goal before Sholing FC got a goal back through Baldacchino's left footed strike. It was all set up for a grandstand finish and the hosts managed to get an equaliser with a few minutes to go. But the Cherries kept going and Sam Matthews provided a finish that stunned Sholing when he smashed in a powerful drive to make it 2-3 and another win for the Development squad.
AFCB official Tweets
Cherries XI to face Sholing FC:
Holmes, Muleba, Buckley, Zubar, Kaye, Coulibaly, Cornick, Whitfield, Stockley, Goodship, Bassele. #afcb
Just over 20 minutes gone and #afcb have just had their best effort of the game far with Bassele's header being well saved. Still 0-0.
#afcb take the lead on the 27th minute as Bassele takes a heavy challenge in the box & steps up to convert the penalty. @sholingfc 0-1 #afcb
Still five minutes to go until the break at the the Silverlake Arena. #afcb still lead @sholingfc by one goal to nil.
Half time at @sholingfc and the Cherries still lead 1-0 thanks an Aristide Bassele penalty. #afcb
The second half is only three minutes old when Jayden Stockley doubles the lead with a lethal finish from 18 yards. #afcb
Matthews and Stockley both come close for #afcb, bringing to an end am impressive passing move. The visitors well in control and lead 2-0.
The hosts have pulled one back here, with a dipping left footed strike from 25 yards out from Baldacchino. @sholingfc 1-2 #afcb
As we enter the dying stages, @sholingfc have grabbed an equaliser as a loose ball is bundled into the back of the net. @sholingfc 2-2 #afcb
With the last move of the game #afcb have grabbed a winner thanks to a cracking 20 yard shot from Matthews! @sholingfc 2-3 #afcb
The referee blows his whistle to call time on a thoroughly entertaining game. Reaction and report to follow. @sholingfc 2-3 #afcb
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.
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