IT was not just the goals that caught Sholing boss Dave Diaper’s eye in their 5-1 Sydenhams Premier victory at Lymington Town on Saturday.

He was equally impressed that his side came out on top in a well-refereed “proper" game of football.

“We always struggle to get a result at Lymo and don’t let the score of 5-1 fool you, we had to dig in and really work hard to get that result,” said Diaper.

“What impressed me about our performance was the way we put a couple of Lymo players on the seat of their pants (within the rules of the game!) and it was good to see a proper game where the art of tackling and men being men was allowed to happen.

"The ref let the game flow – well done Niall Clinton!

“It is a sad thing that the modern game has turned its back on the art of tackling where men were men and you could ‘give it some’ but also be prepared to ‘take some’."

Lee Wort opened the scoring for Sholing on 30 minutes, prodding home a Micky Hubbard free-kick.

Lymington levelled seven minutes later through Nick Magee but the Boatmen went in 2-1 up when Wort teed up Dan Mason to swivel and net his 31st of the season.

Three goals in ten minutes at the start of the second half left Lymo for dead. Dan Miller headed in another Hubbard free-kick before, just 60 seconds later, Wort lifted the ball over ’keeper Ross Casey.

Alex Sawyer polished things off with a neat side-foot finish set up by good work from Barry Mason and Wort.

Sholing dedicated the win to supporter, Tony Court, who sadly passed away last Friday.

Next up for Diaper’s fourth-placed Boatmen is tomorrow's (Tuesday, 7.45pm) Hampshire FA Senior Cup quarter-final tie at home to Southern One South & West outfit Winchester City who were last year's beaten finalists.

*Tomorrow's full Hampshire FA Senior Cup quarter-final line-up: Basingstoke Town v AFC Stoneham, Gosport Borough v AFC Bournemouth Development Squad, Hartley Wintney v AFC Totton, Sholing v Winchester City.