SKIPPER Byron Mason is unavailable for Sholing’s Southern One South & West trip to Wantage Town tomorrow.

But his absence has nothing to do with his non-appearance for the second half against Clevedon last week.

Mason, who captained the Boatmen to Wembley glory in the FA Vase final in May, was always going to be unavailable for the Wantage game and will be back to face Didcot at the Silverlake Arena next Wednesday.

Long-serving midfielder Bryon – one of three Mason brothers in the Sholing side – had a verbal spat with goalkeeper Matt Brown just before half-time against Clevedon and did not reappear after the break.

The matter has been dealt with internally, the club say “everything is fine” and will make no further comment.

Sholing lost the Clevedon game 2-0. It was their fifth defeat in ten league outings, leaving last season’s Sydenhams Premier/Vase champions fifth to bottom of the table with nine points from a possible 30.

Wantage are a point and a place behind them and co-boss Dave Fear is hoping things will start settling down for the Boatmen now the bulk of their injury problems are behind them.

“Injury-wise, it’s now just Alex Baldacchino (ankle), who may have a run-out with the reserves, and Pete Castle who’s been back for a check-up with the surgeon (after a summer knee operation),” said Fear.

“It (not winning) is always going to hurt when the club’s been so successful. It’s not an easy thing for anyone.

“The fans are watching and expecting things and it doesn’t help when the team keeps changing on a weekly basis through injuries and unavailability.

“But we’re getting players back now and hopefully we’ll start clicking and putting the ball in the back of the net.

“The longer you don’t score, the harder it is to keep defending.

“It’s going to be a long season and we’ve got to get through it as best we can.”