SHOLING will begin their FA Cup journey at home to Bournemouth Poppies tomorrow (Friday, 7.45pm) with three hard-earned league points under their belts.

Dave Diaper’s Boatmen – runners-up in the Sydenhams Premier Division last term – won their first game of 2016/17 at Andover Town on Tuesday.

Young Jake Hoole was the hero, cutting in from the left and beating keeper Jamie Bray in the 16th-minute to seal the Boatmen’s 1-0 success.

Sholing were again without former Winchester City striker Zach Glasspool who missed most of pre-season because of a serious back problem.

Manager Dave Diaper said: “It really did not look good a couple of weeks ago. However, I am pleased to say Zach has booked himself into a clinic where he will be given an injection, hopefully to cure the problem.

"Only time will tell, but one thing you can’t help but admire is his determination to get back playing.”

After an encouraging pre-season, including wins against Kettering Town and New Milton Town, ten-man Bashley opened their Wessex Premier account with a 1-0 victory over Hamworthy United watched by a home crowd of 153.

It was a mixed night for midfield dynamo Tyler Rutten, who sealed the points with an unstoppable 30-yarder on 35 minutes only to be shown a straight red after 65 for a two-footed tackle.

The rest of the game was one-way traffic as Hamworthy fought hard to equalise. Bash survived and it came as no surprise when central defender Brad Morris was named man-of-the-match.

A late breakaway goal from ex-Saint Jamie White set the seal on Blackfield & Langley’s 3-1 win at Cowes Sports.

With his side leading 2-1 thanks to a Carl Preston brace, White collected the ball from a 94th-minute Cowes corner, ran the length of the pitch and scored.

Dan Fry, Matt Vining and Dane Sayce were on target for Fawley AFC in their 3-2 success at Bournemouth Poppies, while Horndean hit back from behind to beat AFC Portchester 2-1 at Wicor Rec – Luke Heard and Jack Maloney the scorers.

Newport IoW had Connor Kelly’s early opener snuffed out by Fareham Town’s Matt Andrews, but a late substitution paid off for the Islanders with young Ollie West settling matters 2-1 with a 95th-minute winner.

Moneyfields (Alex Shephard) were held 1-1 at home by Lymington Town (Charlie Willett) and honours were also even at Western Way where Bemerton Heath Harlequins (Elliot Cross, Sam Griffin) and Brockenhurst (Mark Barker, Mitchell Speechley-Price) fought out a frantic 2-2 draw.

Newly-promoted Amesbury Town top the fledgling Premier Division table after last night's 3-0 triumph at Whitchurch United – Ben Cook and Luke Walker (2) the scorers.

Portland United, the reigning Division One champions, also won their top-flight opener 2-0 at Verwood Town thanks to Ed Bastick and Ryan McKechnie.