RYAN GOSNEY stole the show in a dramatic penalty shootout win over Hamble Club to see Sholing into the Sydenhams Wessex League Cup semi-finals last night.

An unfortunate slip saw the keeper hand Coby Wilson a late equaliser to cancel out a Dan Mason penalty, but he then went on to save all three Hamble penalties after the tie had ended 1-1, writes Reece Peecham.

On a cold evening, Sholing’s leading scorer Mason was first to threaten. After some skilful ball juggling he tried an optimistic volley which flew high over.

The Boatmen’s best chances of the opening period then came within 60 seconds of each other. First Lee Wort had his effort tipped over by Sam Webb after being set up by Jake Hoole. The resulting corner saw Dan Miller’s goal-bound header blocked on the line.

As Hamble came into the game, Alex Blake’s well struck half-volley went wide before Gosney did well to hold on to Craig Shrimpton’s effort.

A few minutes later TJ Cuthbertson had to make a vital block from ex-Sholing man Doug Rowe after Ricky Bull had dribbled through the home defence.

Sholing were passing well but weren’t showing the required intensity as the two sides went into half-time 0-0.

Dave Diaper’s Boatmen came out for the second half looking fired up and playing with a lot more intent on the ball.

Jake Hoole troubled the Hamble defence and forced Sam Webb to save at his near post.

The Hamble keeper was busy again, blocking a Miller header from the resulting corner but that would be his last meaningful contribution.

He went off injured just past the hour mark to be replaced by another former Sholing man Rory Anderson.

TJ Cuthbertson was booked for a cynical foul as the home side lost momentum after the stoppage.

Sydenhams One leaders Hamble came dangerously close to taking the lead when Mo Nyang got in behind the Sholing defence. Cuthbertson had to react to clear the danger after Nyang had lobbed the ball past the onrushing Gosney.

The game drifted towards the final ten minutes when Sholing were given the opportunity to take the lead.

Alex Sawyer lobbed in a free-kick and Miller found himself dragged to the floor by Monks’ skipper Mike Byrne in a packed penalty area, prompting referee Pete Lowe to point to the spot.

Before the penalty could be taken, referee Lowe issued a yellow to Shrimpton for comments made and his attempt to delay the spot kick.

Dan Mason stepped up and calmly slotted the ball down the middle to put Sholing within touching distance of the semi-final in the 78th minute. It was goal number 34 of the season for the Boatmen’s deadly striker .

With Hamble seemingly running out of ideas, Sholing looked the more likely to score in the closing stages.

Wort drilled the ball into the side netting and Hoole got a back-post header all wrong as the Boatmen failed to put the game to bed.

Sholing were made to pay for those misses by a moment of madness deep into stoppage time.

An over-hit through ball seemed to be safely rolling to Gosney, but the keeper slipped and fumbled it straight to the feet of Coby Wilson who couldn’t believe his luck as he made it 1-1.

The game went to penalties, and what happened next would make you think Gosney had wanted a shootout all along!

Wort confidently put Sholing in front before Gosney blocked Rowe’s penalty to give the Boatmen the early advantage.

Next to step up was Cuthbertson and his cool kick was a carbon-copy of Wort’s, while Hamble’s second was also saved smartly by Gosney.

Barry Mason then made it 3-0 and Gosney’s final save was the best of the bunch.

James Thompson placed an effort low to the left but sinner-turned-saint Gosney guessed the right way and kept it out with a strong hand to send Sydenhams Premier outfit Sholing through to the last four.