DAVE Diaper cites continuity as a major factor in Sholing’s sensational surge to the Zamaretto South & West summit.

The Boatmen maintained their table- topping form with a tidy 2-0 home win over Yate Town on Saturday thanks to Dave Marden and Barry Mason.

Before kick-off Mason and Kev Brewster were presented with trophies marking 200 league appearances for the club dating back to Sholing’s time in the Wessex Premier ranks.

And it’s a source of pride for Diaper that so many of his play ers have successfully bridged the gap between the Sydenhams and Southern leagues.

“We’ve brought in a few new faces like Dave Marden, Dean Stow and Nathan Peprah-Annan, but mainly we’re still operating with the same team that did so well in the Wessex League,” he pointed out.

“We’ve adapted really well to Southern League football without changing too many players and I think consistency is one of our biggest strengths.

“Of course you get tempted when there are good players going spare, but we don’t turn over too many players at Sholing and team spirit is seeing us through.”

Tomorrow Sholing travel to AFC Totton in the Red Insure Cup (Tuesday, 7.45pm).

Totton are themselves in fine form having chalked up their ninth straight league and cup victory with a 3-1 win over North Leigh on Saturday.

Jonathan Davies (2) and Mike Gosney got the goals, leaving the Stags third in the table, six points behind Sholing with a game in hand.