SHOLING can clinch the Sydenhams Wessex Premier title tomorrow, after which they can focus on the FA Vase final – and life back in the Evostik Southern League. Alresford Town put their celebrations on hold by winning 3-2 win at home to Moneyfields. But Sholing’s 5-0 success at Horndean means they only need two points from three games to clinch the title – and will be champions if they win at Moneyfields tomorrow.

Now Sholing are on the verge of promotion as well as the title, with Diaper ending rumours they were set for another season in the Wessex League by confirming the club has applied to go back into the Southern League division one (S & W). He said: “We want to be back in a higher league where we belong, we need to be at that level.

“The club’s ambitious with a bigger profile after reaching the FA Vase final. We’ll probably look to bring in a commercial manager but I’ll go through the budget after the Vase final.”

Barry Mason, with a clever chip, and two-goal Lee Wort scored twice inside the first seven minutes at Horndean. Wort’s strike was his 50th league and cup goal of the campaign.

His 51st – and 32nd of the Wessex League season – followed when he grabbed his second midway through the first half, following Mike Carter's overhead kick, and Ashley Jarvis made it 4-0 just before half-time.

Marc Diaper completed the rout in the 70th minute with a 25-yard free-kick into the top corner.

Diaper snr said: “We got off to the perfect start and completely bossed the game. When I heard it was 2-2 at Alresford I said it would soon be 3-2 and so it proved. “But we want to win it ourselves and if we win at Horndean we’ll have done that and have time to consolidate ahead of the Vase final.”

Sholing play West Auckland at Wembley on May 10 and their fixture backlog means they still have home games to play against Christchurch (Thursday) and Portchester (Saturday). They need two wins and a draw to overhaul their record Wessex points haul – the 101 that saw them go up as runners-up behind Poole Town five years ago.

Diaper added: “The lads have done tremendously to do as well as they have done, but it’s not done and dusted yet, by any means.”