OPPOSITION NOTES- Sholing FC

Sholing FC make the trip up to Gloucestershire on Saturday looking down the table having suffered four defeats in their last five matches and hoping to turn their season around.

After picking up a spirited point in their reverse fixture at the start of November, the Boatmen have lost seven of their next 10 matches, winning just three as they sit 16th in the Southern Premier South just three points clear of the relegation spots.

That run of results has seen the side fall away from the playoff picture to one fighting to stay up in this converged season.

Having picked up a solid eight points in their opening five matches of the season, they've picked up just 20 points since then and at any period beyond those opening matches it has been relegation form for Sholing with just 12 points from their last 15 matches.

A reason for the downturn in the Hamsphire's side fortunes has been the Boatman's leaky defence that has seen them concede 13 goals in their last four matches including five against Swindon Supermarine and four against Gosport Borough which has seen them plummet down the table.

Only Swindon Supermarine and three of the bottom four boast a worse defensive record than Sholing, while only six sides have scored fewer than Sholing's 34 in 25 games.

The away sides top scorer is former Watford and Colchester forward Michael Folivi who has already scored eight times since joining at the end of November looking to rebuild his career after suffering a long term achilles injury.

Their joint second top scorers all have four goals each with Charlie Gunson in midfield, Dan Mason and Brad Targett all having netted four.

In amongst the relegation battle Sholing boast the best away record out of the bottom eight sides with four wins and three draws in their 13 away fixtures.

They have also won more points away from The Mortgage Decisions Stadium having picked up those 15 points on their away travels compared to 13 at home.

In the previous fixture it was a tale of two goals in the space of three minutes at the start of second half that saw the match end up in a 1-1 draw, one of Gloucester's seven away from the TigerTurf this season.

Brandon Smalley gave the Tigers the lead on 47 minutes before they were pegged back by a Joe Rabbetts equaliser on 50 minutes ensuring both sides shared the spoils on the day.

With away side Plymouth Parkway away to bottom side Marlow at the weekend and if results do not go their way they could sink into the relegation mire if they fail to pick up points away at the TigerTurf.

While fixtures against the upper sides in the table will not determine Sholing's season, points away to promoting chasing City could reinvograte a season that has seen them collapse having failed to pick up more than a point a game in the last two months.

They will be hoping for a return to form in the final 17 games of the season and a more comfortable finish than in the previous season that saw them finish just one point clear of the bottom four despite finishing four places clear of the dreaded drop zone.