IT’S not often Lee Wort has drawn a blank this season, but his 400th Sholing appearance ended in a 0-0 draw with Hamworthy United in the FA Cup first qualifying round.

The Boatmen dominated the all-Sydenhams Premier clash, played in front of a bumper 230 crowd at The Universal Stadium, but found no way through in the face of some solid Hamworthy defending.

Before the game a presentation was made to mark the 300th appearance of midfielder Alex Sawyer in the recent defeat away to Tadley Calleva in the Sydenhams Wessex League Cup .

There was also a minute’s silence for two stalwarts of grassroots football, the Hampshire FA’s John Ward and Downton FC’s Ian Drinkwater, a tribute that was impeccably observed by both sets of fans around the stadium.

After a quiet start in which neither side wanted to make a mistake, the first chance fell to Sholing when Wort flicked a seventh-minute corner just over the bar.

Wort featured again five minutes later, robbing Hamworthy of possession before setting up fellow club stalwart Sawyer who forced keeper Tom Rees into a smart, low save.

Sandwiched between those two chances, Hamworthy had fashioned the most dangerous opening of the first half when ex-Hamble Club striker River Smith ran onto a ball over the top and was denied by keeper Ryan Gosney’s stop before Owen Roundell cleared the ball off the line.

Sholing started the second half on the front foot with Dan Mason having a couple of efforts comfortably saved by Rees.

The game then hit a stalemate and seemed to be petering out before Sholing piled forward again in the last ten minutes.

First Mason cut inside and turned his man in the 80th minute, forcing Rees into a fine fingertip save.

Then, minutes later, Roundell sent a free header into the side netting from TJ Cuthbertson’s cross.

The Boatmen kept going but their last chance eluded them when Jamie Bulpitt curled one inches away of the top corner after a probing run from midfield.

It sets up a replay tomorrow (Tuesday 7.45pm) on the 3G pitch at Hamworthy’s Specsavers County Ground.

Hamworthy boss Callum Brooks praised his well-drilled defence for keeping the Boatmen at bay.

“I thought we defended outstandingly. We knew they would have threats and we didn’t want to make it an open game. We also knew we were missing two of our front four and we wanted to be hard to beat,” he said.

“Sholing are a top side. They are such an efficient unit and don’t really have a weakness.

“They are a good, well-oiled team and we competed with them.

“We are at a different end of the spectrum. We are up and coming and are trying to form a tough unit and build a team that is capable of doing the things Sholing have done.”

SALISBURY boss Steve Claridge was unusually short on words after his side’s 1-1 draw at home to Yate Town.

Yate, a tier below the Whites in the Evo-Stik Division One South, fell behind on 42 minutes when Lewis Benson played through Danny Young to open the scoring.

But the Bluebells instantly retaliated with a top-drawer volley from David Sims-Burgess. Salisbury had plenty of chances to reclaim the lead, including Dan Fitchett hitting the post and then drawing a save with the rebound.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow's replay, Claridge said: “I don’t quite know what to say about that. I don’t think we played with the intensity I expected, although we were better in the second half.

“We didn’t work hard enough in the first half. We have to address those issues. Players have to do a bit more if they want to stay in the side.”

GOSPORT Borough earned their passage into the second qualifying round with a 1-0 win at Sittingbourne.

Former Eastleigh and AFC Totton striker Tony Lee came closest to breaking the first-half deadlock, rattling the crossbar with a bullet header.

Seven minutes into the second half came the turning point of the game as Ryan Pennery was bundled over in the box and coolly converted the spot kick.

The down side for Borough was having on-loan Portsmouth defender Matt Casey taken to hospital with an arm injury.

Gosport, meanwhile, have signed centre-back Joe Byrne from Blackfield & Langley.