A superb free-kick by Michael Hopkins gave North Leigh a 1-0 victory in their tight Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West match at home to last season’s FA Vase winners Sholing on Saturday.

A scrappy game was decided by one moment of quality in the 59th minute.

Elliott Osborne-Ricketts was fouled by a Sholing defender in a dangerous position right of the visitors’ penalty area 22 yards from goal.

Hopkins took the kick and curled a delightful shot that found the top far corner of Sholing keeper Matt Brown’s goal.

It was a deserved victory for the Millers, who had made the early running.

Their best chance of the first half came when Callum McNish slipped a great defence-splitting pass to Jamie Cook.

But with only Brown to beat, Cook clipped the ball wide of the far post.

Sholing went close when a corner taken by Kevin Brewster was headed wide by their captain and best player Barry Mason.

At the start of the second half, Cook had another great chance to open the scoring, but crucially delayed his shot when clear.

After the goal, Sholing came more into the game.

Mason had two half chances to snatch a point.

First, he beat North Leigh defender Stuart Hole to a lofted Sholing clearance, but shot wide from close in.

Right at the death, Brewster’s corner was headed on by Owen Roundell to Mason, who blasted his shot over the bar.

North Leigh: Bulman, Else, Hopkins, Hole, Westlake, Caton, Bowles, Osborne-Ricketts (Turk 86), Cook, Sanders (Linford-Pill 45), McNish Sub not use: Gunn Attendance: 88.