MICK Marsh says Sholing must draw a line under the past and concentrate on the here and now as they fight for Evo-Stik South & West survival.

And the Boatmen’s co-boss has warned it will take time to mould a side capable of emulating the one built by his predecessor Dave Diaper which followed four strong Southern League campaigns with a sparkling FA Vase/Sydenhams Premier double.

Chewing over Saturday’s disappointing 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Taunton Town, which left Sholing 17th in the South & West, Marsh said: “I can’t fault the players, they gave their all, but we’re lacking a bit of quality and we’ve got to start eradicating basic errors.

“The players are disappointed, but we’ve got to keep going. The reality is that we’re a mid to bottom-end of the table team at the moment and, unless we get the basics right, we’re going to struggle.

“But this team is in its embryonic stages and we have to accept that at 5pm at Wembley Stadium in May the class of 2013/14 ceased to exist.

“That side took nine years’ hard work to build and it might take a darned sight longer to get anywhere near that again.

“Of course it’s difficult for the lads from that Vase-winning side who are still here. They had experience around them and now they’re the experienced ones. They live and breathe Sholing FC and they’re hurting at this moment in time.

“But there’s a job to be done and we need to stay strong and believe.”

Marsh blamed “basic errors” for allowing fourth-placed Taunton to take a full house of points back to Somerset.

Sholing fell behind in the tenth minute when Stuart Mott stretched to cut Ben Carter’s long ball on the edge of the box, but succeeded only in heading it into the path of Brett Trowbridge who lifted his shot over ’keeper Matt Brown.

Then on 62 minutes, Sholing were undone again as another Carter assist was chested down by Aiden Chainey and Steve Murray had time and space to volley past Brown from just inside the area.

Sholing had their moments, but Alex Sawyer fired tamely at Peacocks keeper Lloyd Irish after bursting through one-on-one early in the second half.

And, with time running out, the Boatmen forced a succession of corners, one of which was met with a thumping header from midfielder Bryon Mason, back to help out his old teammates while his new club Gosport Borough were in FA Cup action.

But though Mason’s effort was on target, it was skewed off the line by Taunton substitute Craig Herrod.

“That just about summed up our day, but we’re having too many of those days at the moment,” Marsh admitted.

“Byron coming back was about him getting 90 minutes under his belt. To be fair, he put in 120 per cent effort and worked really hard, but there was nothing he could do about mistakes at the back.”

On Tuesday Sholing visit a Bridgwater side just a point and two places above them. “It’s a big, big challenge,” said Marsh, who is likely to welcome back Kevin Brewster, Taurean Manders and Tobi Adekunle, but Marvin McLean (toe) and Mike Byrne (hamstring) are unlikely to feature.

Sholing: Matt Brown, Jude Nwachukwu (Jess Walklin, 76), Jack Smith, TJ Cuthbertson, Stuart Mott, Alex Sawyer, Barry Mason, Byron Mason, Daniel Mason (Sam Wilson, 62), Alex Baldacchino (Nathan Lynch, 79), Nicks Watts. Subs (not used): Taurean Manders, Kevin Brewster.

Referee: Ben Cobb (Poole)

Attendance: 140