Poole Town vs Sholing – Match Preview
We are back at the BlackGold on Saturday to take on Sholing, ko 3pm. The 3-1 win over Uxbridge stretched our unbeaten run to 6 league matches and shows that we are putting some consistency together. That win keeps us in 3rdplace (P21 W12 D5 L4 41 points) and 3rd in the form table P6 W4 D2.
Our visitors had an electric start to the new season, beating us in their first home match of the season, 4-1 on a Tuesday evening in August and going on to top the table for a few weeks. However, they have slipped slightly and are now in 6thplace (P21 W9 D9 L3 36 points) but still handily placed. They have played 11 matches away from their Mortgage Decisions Stadium on the outskirts of Southampton winning 3 drawing 6 and they have suffered two defeats. They have only failed to score in two away fixtures, at Yate Town and Walton & Hersham.
In our two matches against them last season we played out a goalless draw away but took all three points at the BlackGold in a 2-0 win. Sholing went on to finish in 11th position on 52 points, a few places above us. Leading marksman for the club was Michael Folivi who scored 21 goals in 23 games in the 2nd half of the season. In the close season, a world class 3G pitch was installed in record time and officially opened by Levi Colwill in front of 1,888 spectators as Sholing beat Chelsea U19’s, 2-0.
The Boatmen have played two of our local sides in their last two matches. They drew 1-1 with Wimborne at The Wyatt Homes Stadium and then went on to beat Dorchester 2-1 at home last weekend. In that match Sholing took an early lead through Brad Targett but Dorchester quickly equalised. However, a Tommy-Lee Higgs strike for the home side gave them a half-time lead. Will Spetch was shown a straight red card in the second half which made things easier for Sholing who went on to take all three points.
Former Dolphin Jake McCarthy signed for Sholing after leaving Weymouth in September. He has been pretty much ever present for them since then and has scored 7 league goals. Just two behind the clubs top scorer Michel Folivi who is on 9.
Sholing gained promotion to the Southern Premier South for the first time at the end of the 2022/23 season. After finishing the league campaign in 2nd place, the Boatmen firstly defeated Wimborne Town 2-1 in the playoff semi-final, before beating Hamworthy United 2-0 in the Final. After 25 years in charge, Dave Diaper stepped down in October 2023 with Paul Doswell, the ex-Eastleigh and Sutton United boss taking over as manager, and Ross White acting as first team coach. Since Doswell and a new board of directors have arrived, a new 400 capacity stand was built and many improvements have been made, including a large fan zone and 100 space hardstanding car park.
It was announced this week that the very popular and long serving club captain Jamie Whisken will spend a month at Shaftsbury as part of his recovery and to give him the opportunity to regain match fitness. I am sure that we all wish him well and look forward to seeing him back at the heart of our defence.
As we enter the festive period it would be great to keep this successful run going as we prepare to take on local rivals Wimborne Town at the Wyatt Homes Stadium next Saturday. Come along and support your local team and experience non-league football at its best.
Enjoy the game
Neil Wellington.