High-flying Lymington Town soar past Badgers in Sydenhams Premier
Sydenhams Premier: Lymington Town FC 3-0 Brockenhurst
LYMINGTON Town FC got back at Brockenhurst following their Bournemouth Senior Cup semi-final exit a week ago with a convincing 3-0 victory in the Sydenhams Premier division.
Sam House’s brace and Dom Falco’s clinical finish gave Town a 3-0 first-half lead which they maintained until the final whistle.
The hosts were dominant in the first half with House coming close on several occasions. He broke the deadlock on 20 minutes from a Luke Churchill free-kick, and four minutes later they doubled their lead when Falco fired past Brockenhurst keeper Jon Webb for his 21st goal of the season.
Lymington, who are the league’s top goal-scorers with 62, continued to pile on the pressure and Brock struggled in reply. On the stroke of half-time, House struck a dagger to any Badgers revival when he dinked the ball over Webb on the counter-attack to give the hosts a three-goal advantage.
In the second half, Brock brought on Ben Kemplen and Freddie Bullard for more attacking firepower. The visitors had chances to get back into the game, but the Lymington defence and keeper Ross Casey held firm.
Their best chance fell to Mitchell Speechley-Price midway through the half, his acrobatic bicycle kick destined for the back of the net until Casey pulled off one of the saves of the season to deny him.
Lymington substitute Nathan Hurst came close in the final stages, but the damage had been done and Town strolled to a 3-0 home victory.
After a flying start to 2020, Lymington sit third in the league. Manager Dave Lewis was pleased with his side’s outing: "I take my hat off to the lads for a very professional, clinical performance against a good Brockenhurst team that we have a great deal of respect for."
'Let down'
Meanwhile, the Badgers sit 12th after a recent dip in form. Manager Pat McManus was disappointed after a poor first-half display. He told the A&T: "We were badly let down by our first-half performance from a defensive point of view.
"Two charitable goals, albeit one majorly deflected, in my opinion, could have been rectified if we had got to half-time and regrouped. However, to concede so close to the break put the game beyond reach.
"Lymington only had to defend resolutely for the second period, which they did to their credit."
Brockenhurst have little time to dwell on their defeat as they face Hamworthy United in the Bournemouth Senior Cup final tonight while Lymington travel to Bush Hill in the Southampton Senior Cup.
Lymington Town: Casey, Carkeet, Moore, Churchill, Ritchie, Davies, Cullen, Stephenson, House, Zintany, Falco. Subs: Yates, Man, Speers, Magee, Hurst.
Brockenhurst: Webb, Manufor, Shebatzedah, Nwachukwu, Wilson, Newton, Tickle, Bailey, Speechley-Price, White, Carbayo-Borges. Subs: Bullard, Cousins, Kemplen, King.
