Sholing & Hamworthy United to Battle Out Play-Off Final

The promotion play-off final in the Pitching In Southern League Division One South will be between Sholing and Hamworthy United after they triumphed in Wednesday evening’s semi-finals.

Sholing finished as runners-up to champions and neighbours AFC Totton, whilst the Hammers were third in their first season at Step 4 level.

A crowd of 393 saw the Boatmen welcome Wimborne Town to The Imperial Homes Stadium – the Magpies finishing fifth in the regular season, pipping Tavistock AFC by 2 points in the end.

There was a frenetic start to the game and it was the visitors who came close to taking a first half lead through Harry Baker, who was denied by Sholing’s young keeper Theo Widger.

Shortly after half-time, the home side’s Dan Mason headed against the woodwork and just 5 minutes later was denied on the line.

The breakthrough finally arrived after 64 minutes when Byron Mason shot through a sea of legs, leaving Wimborne `keeper Shane Murphy uncited.

Then, with 5 minutes remaining, a mistake by Murphy allowed Dan Mason to score the second.

The Magpies managed to reduce the deficit 2 minutes into stoppage time when Dan Bartlett fired home from the edge of the box, but the Boatmen held on to seal their final spot on Monday.

When they will host Hamworthy, who overcame an Evesham United side who made a late run to make the top five.

A good number of Evesham supporters made the lengthy trip south to the Sunseeker International County Ground and saw Jack Hallahan go close to an early opener from 25 yards.

But it was the home side who took a 20th minute lead when Will Fletcher was left unmarked to score.

And on 35 minutes, it was 2-0 when Sam Griffin headed a Eddie Hodge cross past Josh Nicol.

Evesham thought they had got themselves back into the tie 5 minutes after half-time, only for Hammers` keeper Tommy Scott to pull off a fine save from Kyle Belmonte.

However, just shy of the hour-mark, the semi-final looked to be all over for the Robins when Charlie Wise brought down Cameron Munn in the box and Tony Rolls duly converted the resulting penalty.

Evesham were even denied a consolation in the 2nd minute of time added on at the end of the game when they were also awarded a penalty for a foul on Will Owens, but Belmonte’s effort from 12 yards went wide of the post.