DAVE Diaper felt the worst thing that happened to Sholing last night was finding themselves up against ten men.

Until the point when Cinderford Town’s Matt Barnes was shown a straight red for a foul on Marvin McLean, the Boatmen were doing just fine on their Southern One South & West travels, writes WENDY GEE.

Having seized the lead through Barry Mason inside two minutes, they then lost it two minutes later as Cinderford’s giant frontman Lewis Sommers helped himself to a free header.

But with 21 minutes gone, Sholing made it 2-1 when dual-signed New Milton man Danny Cox delivered a corner which centre-back Lee Bright headed home.

The Boatmen went close to a third when McLean rattled the crossbar, but the game changed completely once Barnes had got his marching orders.

Instead of Sholing taking the initiative against ten men, they lost their shape and Cinderford took full advantage to hit back for a 3-2 victory.

Andy Lewis replied with a 53rd-minute free kick which sailed through from around the halfway line before slack Sholing marking allowed Sommers to cross for Ashley Malcolm to net the 73rd-minute winner.

“The biggest thing that went against us was them going down to ten men,” admitted Sholing boss Dave Diaper, pictured right.

“We’d had a good first half and looked very compact, but the sending off affected us more than it did them.

“We had five players out tonight, but that’s no excuse. We still had a good enough team to get something out of the game.

“But we weren’t patient enough to pass the ball around and make use of our wide men.

“We know we can do better, but I can’t point the finger too much because at least the lads made the long journey here having worked during the day.”

It was 15th-placed Sholing’s tenth league defeat of the campaign – the most games they have ever lost in a season during four years as a Southern League club.