LES Mwenze grabbed the spotlight with a 30-yard stunner to earn Sholing a share of the Southern One South & West points at Mangotfield United on Saturday.

The midfielder normally plies his trade for the Boatmen’s reserves but, with injuries continuing to mount at Portsmouth Road, Mwenze has joined the first-team fold along with full-back Joe Griggs.

It could have been a long afternoon for Sholing after falling behind with just nine minutes gone at Cossham Street. Cashing in on a rare slip by TJ Cuthbertson, Mangos’ Matt Groves made it to the byline and crossed for Lewis Powell to convert for the home side.

But, following the first of many top-drawer saves from Sholing stopper Matt Brown, Mwenze lit up the game with a simply stunning 23rd-minute leveller.

Exploiting acres of space in central midfield, he strode forward and let fly with a 30-yard beauty that arrowed into the top corner.

Goalkeeper Joe Perry got a hand to it but, such was the power and precision, that he didn’t stand a chance. “It was an unbelievable strike by Les,” smiled manager Dave Diaper.

“He and Joe Griggs came into the side at Taunton last week (a 2-1 defeat) and that’s two good performances from us against two decent teams.

“For us to grind out a point at Mangotsfield was tremendous, I’m very pleased with the lads. It was a real battling performance.

“It’s never an easy place to go and we knew Mangotsfield would throw everything at us in the second half - and they did. But we dug in well and Browner was tremendous again.

“We’ve got a special goalkeeper in Browner and it takes a decent effort to beat him.

“It must be very reassuring as a defender to know you’ve got such a safe pair of hands behind you.”

The draw ended a run of three straight league defeats for 17th-placed Sholing and Diaper admitted: “It was important we got something today.

“We showed great character and got some good fortune that we haven’t had in recent weeks.”

This Wednesday (7.45pm) the Boatmen entertain AFC Bournemouth’s development squad in the semi-final of the Hampshire FA Senior Cup.

Defender Mike Byrne will play no part, having pulled up with a groin strain after 37 minutes on Saturday.