IF Wisbech Town weren’t in awe of Sholing’s firepower – they might be now!

The Fenmen, who visit Portsmouth Road in the FA Vase quarter-finals on Saturday, were given a timely reminder of the Boatmen’s scoring capability last night as Dave Diaper’s men destroyed Horndean 9-0 in the Sydenhams Premier Division.

Sholing led 4-0 half-time through two-goal Ashley Jarvis (13, 39), Lee Wort (penalty, 21) and man-of-the-match Lewis Fennemore (36).

Come the hour mark they were 6-0 up with Dan Miller (47) and Barry Mason (57) getting in on the act and they were so comfortable that they took off strike duo Jarvis and Wort with 20 minutes to go.

But still the goals kept coming with Kev Brewster (76) bringing up the magnificent seven before Danny Cox struck twice – first with a penalty and then getting the final touch amid a goalmouth scramble.

“It was a very worthwhile workout for us,” said manager Diaper. “It may sound strange, but I was quite impressed with Horndean. They’re a young team who tried to play football and they didn’t resort to kicking.

“But we were hungry and it was one of those nights when we played like we used to as a Southern League team. We were back in the groove and looked more like the side we were five weeks ago.”

Mike Carter – back from severed thumb tendons – played the whole game at centre-half. The only downer was winger Nick Watts being taken to hospital after dislocating his shoulder around 20 minutes in.

The win lifted second-placed Sholing to within a point of league leaders Winchester City, who were beaten 2-0 at home by Bemerton Heath Harlequins – Jack Slade and Seb Dawes scoring. Diaper’s Boatmen still have eight games in hand.

Alresford Town remain third after a comprehensive 4-0 win at Totton & Eling where Warren Bentley, Suhael Odeh, Stuart Mott and Dan Strange were on target.

After six straight victories, Folland Sports’ winning streak ended with a 1-1 home draw against Whitchurch United.

A controversial game saw the Planemakers’ cancel out skipper Jamie Barron’s opener with an own goal.

But the real talking point was the 30th-minute dismissal of Follands’ goalkeeper Ryan Gosney at the expense of a penalty which, manager Danny Bowers insisted, should never have been given. But sub ’keeper Sam Scrase’s first contribution was to save the spot kick.

Elsewhere ex-Sholing and Winchester City midfielder Charlie Smeeton bagged a hat-trick for sixth-placed Newport IoW who sent Lymington Town packing 4-0. Scott Sampson scored the other.