SHOLING will entertain Moneyfields this Saturday (March 4, 3pm) with at least an 11-point chasm separating them from the Sydenhams Premier leaders.

The Boatmen’s 1-1 draw at Bashley on Saturday has dropped last season’s runners-up to fourth spot, a point adrift of second-placed Blackfield & Langley who have a game in hand.

Come tomorrow evening, Dave Carter’s Money men may have tightened their stranglehold on pole position when they entertain struggling Cowes Sports who were thumped 6-0 at Carter’s old club Horndean on Saturday.

With Barry Mason again missing following an ankle operation and Marvin McLean ruled out by injury, Sholing had to rely on yet another goal by Dan Mason – his 37th of the season – to prise a point from a windswept encounter at Bashley.

The Foresters attacked from the start and, within the first eight minutes, three well-worked moves – all featuring a final cross by Hugh Dathan – had Sholing on the back foot.

But the Boatmen soon grew into the game with Lee Wort and Dan Mason sending headers over and Zac Mouland denied by a goalline clearance before they fell into 35th-minute arrears.

Bash took the lead with a somewhat fortuitous finish – Charlie Kendall hitting a shot into the ground which bounced high into the net.

And it was the Foresters who finished the half the stronger with Sean Wright, Lewis Brailey and Kabba Jack all threatening.

After an excellent first-half display, Bash keeper Joe Prodomo was finally beaten on 50 minutes. A high Sholing corner caused backline mayhem and, after Wort had headed the ball back across goal, Mason was in the right place at the right time to chest home the equaliser from three yards.

TJ Cuthbertson fizzed a shot just wide for Sholing before Prodomo made another great save to deny Mason a second of the afternoon.

Bash lost some stability after the hard-tackling Brad Morris had to withdraw though illness and so nearly fell behind when Cuthbertson was again thwarted by that man Prodomo and Mouland’s shot on the rebound was cleared off the line.

Havant & Waterlooville loanee Marley Ridge was Moneyfields’ star man at Amesbury Town.

The young midfielder, recently with AFC Totton, scored twice in 60 seconds to put the league leaders two up with just ten minutes gone.

Amesbury pulled one back through Ben Cook, but the champions elect held tight to notch their 25th league win of the season.

Horndean were Saturday’s big scorers, hitting Cowes for six through Sam Smart (2), Joe Richardson (2), Ashton Leigh and Jack Maloney.

Sydenhams Premier top scorers: 37 - Dan Mason (Sholing) 33 - Scott Joyce (Bemerton HH), Jamie White (Blackfield & Langley) 27 - Mark Barker (Brockenhurst) 22 - Gary Austin (Moneyfields) 20- Sam House (Lymington Town), Steve Hutchings (Moneyfields), Steve Smith (Hamworthy Utd).