Sholing 2 Baffins Milton Rovers 1.

SHOLING are halfway towards crowning the season with what they hope will be a glorious cup double.

Having eclipsed Baffins Milton Rovers 2-1 in today’s Sydenhams League Cup showpiece at AFC Portchester, they now take the quickest of breathers before facing holders Team Solent in the Southampton Senior Cup at St Mary’s on Wednesday (7.30pm).

Premier Division class told against Baffins as goals by Byron and Dan Mason put the Boatmen two up before Blu Boam hit back for the Division One runners-up in stoppage time.

“That’s half the job done,” smiled victorious boss Dave Diaper. “We didn’t go overboard with the celebrations because we’re mindful of Wednesday.

“I think this is the harder cup to win because there are so many Wessex Premier teams in it, but the centre stage has got to be St Mary’s.

“At 2-0 up we conserved some energy and that’s why we dipped a bit. But it was important to focus on one game at a time and I’m glad we went with a strong team today.”

Sholing capitalised on an error to take a 13th-minute lead. Baffins skipper Danny Audin surrendered possession to Barry Mason, who quickly found brother Dan.

His attempt to tee up the third Mason brother, Byron, was intercepted for a corner which dead-ball maestro Kevin Brewster delivered for Byron to head home.

On 22 minutes another Brewster flag kick was met with a thumping downward header from Sholing’s giant centre-back Dan Miller which 'keeper Tony Male blocked on the line.

Set pieces continued to be Sholing’s weapon of choice and they threatened again with a 30th-minute free-kick won by Marv McLean's darting run. Brewster again delivered, but TJ Cuthbertson’s header cleared the bar.

Ryan Pennery, scorer of 48 Baffins goals, cleverly engineered himself a 44th-minute opening but shot just wide of Ryan Gosney’s left-hand post.

Baffins improved after the break but slipped further into arrears seven minutes in.

Seconds after having a penalty shout waved away, Dan Mason swept in his 44th goal of another prolific season thanks to Jamie Bulpitt's flick-on from Cuthberton’s cross.

Baffins looked in vain for a penalty as sub Callum Dart went sprawling and Sholing should have had a third when Dan Mason missed a sitter from sub Lee Wort’s assist.

A clean sheet would have capped a perfect day for Sholing, but Boam pulled one back after playing a sweet one-two with Pennery.

“We’ve kept 25 clean sheets this season and the lads don’t like conceding. They're a bit disappointed with that," said Diaper.

“But you can see why Baffins have done so well in their league. They work very hard for each other."

Sholing: Ryan Gosney, TJ Cuthbertson, Marvin McLean, Owen Roundell, Dan Miller, Kevin Brewster (Owen Royl, 69), Barry Mason, Byron Mason (Lee Wort, 64), Dan Mason, Jake Hoole (Bradey Norton, 85), Jamie Bulpitt. Subs (not used): Zac Mouland, Nick Yeomans.

Referee: Rob Ablitt (Locks Heath).

Man-of-the-match: Byron Mason (Sholing).

Attendance: 450.