GOALKEEPER Rory Anderson and super sub Daniel Mason starred as Sholing tamed high-flying Larkhall Athletic 1-0 in the Southern One South & West.

With manager Dave Diaper away on a Christmas break in Lapland, his right-hand man Stuart Hussey took charge at Portsmouth Road. And Hussey’s decision to call Mason off the bench in the 65th minute proved a shrewd one as the young striker grabbed the winner with just eight minutes to go after Alex Sawyer’s shot had been spilled.

It was the perfect response to a galling weekend when the Boatmen had been “killed” by a controversial late penalty award in a 1-0 defeat Evesham.

“After being robbed on Saturday we’ve come back with a tremendous result against a team flying high,” smiled Hussey.

“We were pleased to be in the game at half-time – not just in it, but competing, and we should have had a penalty for a handball miles clearer than the one given against us at Evesham.

“Rory Anderson, our man-of-the-match, has then pulled off four unbelievable saves – that’s what he’s there for.”

Sholing, 17th, are at home again on Saturday to bottom-of-the-table Bishops Cleeve.