RORY Anderson ensured young Owen Roundell completed his Sholing first-team debut with a smile on his face.

In the absence of Dan Miller and Pete Castle, 17-year-old Roundell was thrown in for his debut at centre-back for Saturday’s visit of third-to-bottom Wantage Town.

All went well until 19 minutes from time when the teenager was deemed to have fouled Jack John inside the area and the referee pointed to the spot.

But, given the chance to tilt a poor contest Wantage’s way, Ben Whitehead had his penalty kick well saved by Boatmen’s keeper Anderson to ensure a 0-0 Southern One South & West stalemate.

Sholing boss Dave Diaper – also without Sam Olaofe, Tobi Adekunle, Matt Brown and Kev Brewster - admitted it wasn’t the most exciting way to bring the curtain down on their 2014/15 home programme, describing it as “a typical end-of-season non event.”

But if there was one positive to come out of it, it was keeping a clean sheet with an extremely young back four containing Roundell – who started this season in the under-18s – and fullbacks Liam Golding and Joe Griggs.

“0-0 was a fair result,” said Diaper.

“We got something from the game and had the added benefit of trying out two or three younger players.

“Wantage needed a point to stay up and were trying hard, so it was pleasing to keep a clean sheet considering the amount of players we had out.

“We could have lost it, but for Rory Anderson.

“Owen Roundell had a very good game, but he showed a little bit of inexperience when he gave the penalty away.

“But Rory is a tremendous at saving penalties and he managed to stop it.

“It would have been a miscarriage of justice had we lost. It was never more than a bore draw really.”

With two final away league fixtures – at North Leigh (April 18) and Larkhall Athletic (April 25) – and a Hampshire FA Senior Cup final to come, Diaper has given his threadbare squad the week off.

“The last two weeks will be quite intense with the cup final looming on May 5 (against Gosport Borough at Fratton Park) so I’m giving the lads a bit of a break,” he explained.