Record Crowd Sees Sholing Make History

Sholing will join neighbours AFC Totton in the Pitching In Southern League Premier Division South next season after beating Hamworthy United in the Division One South play-off final today.

A record crowd of 1,289 at the Imperial Homes Stadium saw the Boatmen, who finished runners-up at the end of the regular season, win 2-0 and follow their champion rivals into Step 3 for the first time.

Sholing’s Dan Mason was first to feature in the sunshine, but his flicked header went wide of Tommy Scott’s goal.

The home side had the lions` share of possession in the opening 45 minutes without really creating a clear-cut opportunity.

Nine minutes into the second half, Hammers` keeper Scott saved well from Mason and 4 minutes later, the deadlock was broken, and again it was Mason who caused the problem for the visitors` defence and his cross was volleyed home by Lee Wort.

Mason then got the goal his performance had deserved to double the Boatmen’s lead just past the hour-mark, being allowed too much time and space to beat Scott.

Hamworthy tried hard to get back into the contest but Sholing held firm and managed the rest of the game well, including 5 minutes of added time, to take their place at Step 3 in 2023/24.