PETE Castle made a surprise return for Sholing at Didcot Town – playing up front!

The powerful centre-back had not kicked a ball in anger after undergoing knee surgery in the wake of the Boatmen’s FA Vase success at Wembley in May.

He had planned to ease himself back into action with James Taylor’s Team Solent in Sydenhams One but, aware of Sholing’s mounting injury problems, put in an unexpected call to manager Dave Diaper to make himself available for Didcot.

The afternoon ended in a 3-1 Southern One South & West defeat, but Diaper was far from downbeat with Castle’s return one of several positives.

“Pete’s not going to Team Solent now, he’s come straight back to us. He phoned and said he knew we were struggling for players and he got a good 45 minutes under his belt playing up top,” the boss explained.

“I was quite pleased with our performance considering we’ve still got loads of lads out.

“Young goalkeeper Jordan Brookes is going to be out for three weeks after hurting his ankle against Bashley, so Rory Anderson played even though he’s not fully fit and TJ (Cuthbertson) had to take goal kicks for him.”

The Boatmen had no Alex Sawyer (holiday) or Jack Smith (suspended) either, while the likes of Matt Brown and Marvin McLean remain on the long-term injury list.

Sholing had some joy down the right early on with Barry Mason’s cross-cum-shot hitting the top of the bar before an unfortunate slip by Cuthbertson allowed ex-Saints youth winger Josh Dutton-Black to fire the Railwaymen into a 19th-minute lead.

That advantage was doubled nine minutes later when Taurean Manders conceded a penalty and, although Anderson guessed the right way, John Mills’ strike had ample power and accuracy to find the net.

The remainder of the half was all Didcot with Cuthbertson and Sholing man-of-the-match Dan Miller making crucial clearances to keep the hosts at bay, but it was much better from the Southampton visitors after the break.

“We raised our game in the second half and we knew that if we could get a goal back, it would make them nervous,” said Diaper.

And so it transpired.

With just over an hour gone, Boatmen’s substitute Sam Wilson announced his arrival by drilling a first-time shot low past keeper James Foster after skipper Byron Mason had touched the ball back into his path.

With Sholing tails up, Nick Watts cut past three players surging in from the left and curled the ball over before Barry Mason turned his man on the edge of the box and unleashed a shot that almost squirmed under the keeper.

But, in pushing for the equaliser, the Boatmen left themselves vulnerable on the break and, in a rare second-half attack from Didcot, sharp-shooter Mills made sure of the points in the 85th minute, his 37th goal of the season edging the Railwaymen up to third.

“To be fair, we did quite well,” said Diaper. “We upped our game second half, pressed high up the field and worked them really well.

“No one likes losing, but you’ve got to take your hat off to this bunch of lads. Two or three of them are playing with injuries but they’re giving it their all and the younger ones are gaining good experience from it.”

Weather permitting, Sholing are away to Southern Premier big guns Poole Town tomorrow (Tuesday) in the third round of the Red Insure Cup.

Totton, whose scheduled trip to Stratford Town was postponed on Saturday, hope to succeed tomorrow (Tuesday) where the Boatmen failed by denting Didcot’s league ambitions at the Testwood Stadium.

Sholing: Rory Anderson, Kev Brewster, Taurean Manders, TJ Cuthbertson, Dan Miller, Macaully Smith (Sam Wilson, 55), Barry Mason, Byron Mason, Pete Castle (Dan Mason, 45), Nick Watts, Jess Walklin. Subs (not used): Declan McCarthy, Owen Roundall, Jordan Brookes.