DAN Mason volleyed Sholing to the Sydenhams Premier Division summit with his 14th goal of the campaign.

His magic moment arrived in the 32nd-minute at home to Bashley on Saturday when he collected the ball, back to goal, expertly turned and smacked it in off the far post.

With overnight leaders Blackfield & Langley and Moneyfields both losing, the 1-0 win put the Boatmen on top of the Wessex pile.

The win stretched their unbeaten run to nine in all competitions and was their seventh clean sheet of the season.

Incredibly for hotshot Mason, it was his 53rd goal in his last 66 games for the Portsmouth Road club.

Talking through his latest masterpiece, Mason said: “I peeled off their smaller guy as they were playing three at the back. I was just looking to bring it down and, where I’d been holding the ball up most of the game, they weren’t expecting me to turn and shoot. I didn’t expect it to go in like that though."

Ever the perfectionist, he added: "14 goals this season is good, but I always want to challenge myself, so I feel I should be on a few more.

"Hopefully, as the season goes on, I'll get more and more as I always strive for better.

"But 53 in 66 is really good. I like that stat!"

While happy with Sholing’s defensive display, Mason felt there was room for improvement going forward.

Zac Mouland and Owen Roundell both went close after the break while Kevin Brewster’s free-kick was tipped onto the post.

“It’s always good keeping cleans sheets because that means you come home with at least a point each game,” he said.

“We should have been better going forward though. For the quality we have, I feel we should go on to score more once we go one up.”

Mason also felt the physical presence of his injured big brother Byron was missed in midfield, but said: “Once we get our team back, we can beat anyone in the league.

“It’s good to be top. The boys in the dressing room were saying this is the time now to hit form. We don’t want to give it away.

“Hopefully when April comes around, we’re still here. We have to take every game seriously regardless of who we play and we still have to put the work in.”

Sholing are at home again tomorrow (Tuesday, 7.45pm) against Park Sports in the Southampton Senior Cup.

*Additional reporting by Jack Prentice.