Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
Sholing beat Bognor Regis Town 3-2 in a pre-season friendly at the Mortgage Decisions Stadium as Dan Mason's bicycle kick sealed the Boatmen's first win of summer 2026.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
Sholing dominated the opening exchanges and nearly took the lead inside three minutes, with Bognor goalkeeper Tommy Scott tipping Tommy Willard's close-range effort over the bar. Michael Folivi then failed to keep his shot down from a Joe Rabbetts pull-back.
Against the run of play, Bognor struck first on 19 minutes. Jack Turner could not hold a corner under pressure, and Callum Laycock poked the ball home from six yards to give the visitors the lead.
Sholing's response was swift. On the half-hour mark, Henry Searle was adjudged to have handled inside the penalty area, and Michael Folivi stepped up to send Scott the wrong way from the spot, making it 1-1 at the break.
Sholing emerged with intent in the second half and took the lead just past the hour mark. Sam Magri's long ball forward was flicked on by half-time substitute Jahiem Dotse, and Vinnie Tume raced onto the loose ball before rifling it into the far corner for his first goal of pre-season.
Ten minutes later came the game's defining moment. Dan Mason produced an audacious overhead kick from Sam Magri's floated cross, the ball deflecting off the goalkeeper before nestling in the corner to make it 3-1. Mason almost added a fourth moments later, but his effort from inside the box rolled wide.
Bognor reduced the arrears with 10 minutes to play when substitute Lenny Smith curled home from range, but Sholing held on. Jahiem Dotse forced a smart double save from a Bognor trialist goalkeeper in the closing stages, but the score remained 3-2.
The Turning Point
Dan Mason's 65th-minute bicycle kick gave Sholing a two-goal cushion at a moment when the game was still finely poised at 2-1. The acrobatic finish — a contender for goal of pre-season — shifted the momentum decisively and proved crucial when Bognor pulled one back through Smith late on.
Key Performers
- Dan Mason (Sholing): Match-winning contribution with a spectacular overhead kick that decided the game. Also went close to a second.
- Michael Folivi (Sholing): Drew Sholing level from the penalty spot on the half-hour mark and was a constant threat in the final third.
- Jahiem Dotse (Sholing): Introduced at half-time, his flick-on led to Tume's go-ahead goal, and he forced a late double save. A game-changing substitute appearance.
- Callum Laycock (Bognor Regis Town): Scored the opener with a poacher's finish from close range and led Bognor's attacking efforts.
Player of the Match: Dan Mason (Sholing)
By the Numbers
Sholing's first-half dominance — they created three clear chances in the opening 10 minutes alone — was not reflected in the 1-1 half-time scoreline. The Boatmen's patience paid off in the second period, generating three goals from nine shots. Bognor's two goals came from a combined six yards (Laycock's tap-in) and a long-range effort (Smith's curled finish), illustrating the visitors' reliance on set pieces and moments of individual quality rather than sustained pressure.
What It Means
Sholing's first pre-season victory (after a 2-2 draw with Weymouth on 14 July) provides momentum ahead of their Southern League Premier South opener against freshly relegated Bath City on 8 August. Bognor Regis Town, under manager Danny Hollands, continue their preparations for an Isthmian South Central campaign where they will target promotion to Step 3.
Sholing's next friendly: vs Winchester City (H) — Tuesday 21 July, 7:45pm kick-off at the Mortgage Decisions Stadium.
Verdict
A deserved win for Sholing, who overcame a sluggish start with a dominant second-half display. Mason's bicycle kick was the highlight of a pre-season fixture that served its purpose: minutes for the squad, sharpness under pressure, and a first win on the board for the Boatmen.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 19 Jul 2026