Sholing held the lead for almost an hour over Farnborough from two leagues above but their FA Trophy dreams were crushed in the second half as the Conference South side came back to win 2-1 in their third qualifying round tie at the Silverlake Arena today.

Alex Sawyer’s header gave the Boatman the lead on seven minutes but a Feye Okenbarhie penalty ,after Mike Bryne had fouled, and a debut goal for new signing from Bromley, Duncan Culley, gave Spencer Day’s side the win – their third in a row.

The FA Vase holders, who have been in good form of late under Dave Diaper’s leadership, gave a good account of themselves. The heroics of stand-in goalkeeper Rory Anderson were especially impressive.

But in the end, the Southern League South & West side couldn’t keep up their rate of performance as their Hampshire rivals resurged and will feel hard-done-by not to come away with anything.

The first half mainly consisted of a battle of the midfield. As the break approached Farnborough started to turn the screw as they made their Conference calibre tell.

For the most part Sholing were highly resolute and worked hard for each other. The attacking trio of Sam Wilson, Dan Mason and Nick Watts battled hard against Boro’s physical defence, on occasions being able string passes together.

At the other end Boatmen left back Taurean Manders was tasked with dealing with the pace and trickery of winger Okenbarhie. The dinky Bermudian-born defender was in trouble on a couple of occasions as the powerful Okenbarhie ran in behind.

Manders did manage to frustrate his marker at other times and kept Boro’s biggest threat quiet with dogged defending.

The opening goal came in the seventh minute as Dan Mason broke clear or the right wing.

His cross found Sawyer in the six yard box. With the Boro defence seemingly nowhere to be seen, the midfield man planted a header to the near post. It dodged the outstretched arm of visiting stopper Dillon Barnes and into the net, 1-0.

Farnborough went looking for an equaliser but it was Dave Diaper’s side that went closest just past 24 minutes. Kevin Brewster, who is known as a free kick specialist, curled two free kicks at goal, both from around 25 yards out.

The first was fumbled by Barnes but he managed to smother it as the Sholing attack rushed-on. The second, with Barnes trembling at the thought of what Brewster was about to deliver, was held by the stopper.

Barnes’s opposite number Anderson was also in action, pulling off some superb reaction saves. Louie Theophanous, on the Boro left, slammed one at Anderson, but the dual-signed Brockenhurst stopper held well. Harry Grant then hit one to his near post, again, he was down well to save again.

Theophanous then had the away side’s best chance. He controlled immaculately in the box on the left from Amadeu Arnau cross. The towering attacker set himself before cracking a shot off the upright.

From the half hour, Spencer Day’s side went on the hunt for a goal. Jack Smith and Sawyer at the heart of the Boatmen midfield worked hard to cut-out the onslaught. TJ Cuthbertson and Byrne were patrolled the backline effectively, cutting out any danger.

As the half came to a close Anderson saved from a Theophanous shot from the edge of the box. The giant killing was on. Farnborough didn’t look like scoring, especially with Anderson’s performance.

However, the giant killing was well and truly off in the second half. Boro’s physicality and fitness started to tell as the Boatmen were restricted to break away attacks.

The breakthrough that Boro had been hunting for finally happened when Sholing centre back Byrne was penalised for challenge on Arnau, who was on a surging run into the box.

The referee was in no doubt and pointed to the spot. The subsequent spot-kick was converted by Okenbarhie. Manders and Byrne were both booked for their parts in the penalty and build-up.

The winner arrived with 15 minutes left. Substitute Culley hit first time as the ball came in from Okenbarhie. It wasn’t a clean contact by any extent and it almost bounced off his standing foot – curling into the bottom right corner from 12-yards out.

What followed was an onslaught of attack from Boro. Anderson was sublime in the Boatmen net, though.

He pulled-off a magnificent save from Theophanous and smothered as Arnau burst through one-on-one. Anderson then had Manders to thank for clearing off the line at a corner.

Those saves allowed Sholing to chase the game, as they looked for an equaliser. In the last ten minutes substitute Jude Nwachukwu broke through one-on-one but, after some outstanding hassling that saw him win the ball from centre back Darryl Siaw, he wasn’t composed enough to finish from inside the box.

A Kevin Brewster corner was then held well by Barnes at the near post.

Despite good pressure as the game closed out, the Boatmen couldn’t pull-off the cup upset they’d been hoping for.