Velocity Wessex Division One football: New-look New Milton ship nine goals on opening day
Velocity Wessex Division One
New Milton Town FC 0
Fleetlands FC 9
A YOUTHFUL and almost entirely new line-up New Milton Town side received a baptism of fire in their league curtain-raiser, shipping nine goals to Fleetlands.
The previous manager Paul Turner left the club after an unsuccessful promotion play-off bid, with new manager Brad Walsh ringing the changes ahead of the new campaign.
The visitors only took two minutes to score, and the Coptermen doubled the advantage 10 minutes later.
The first came after Alfie Lis fizzed a low cross into the area where Brandon Jewell’s wild, lunging finish looped up and past the outstretched hand of New Milton debutant keeper Christian Renouf.
The Linnets were defending doggedly in the face of sustained Coptermen pressure, but a flicked-on header allowed Kai Sterne to ghost in behind and poke the ball home on his league debut.
New Milton had the chance to halve the deficit from the penalty spot, but an excellent save from keeper Ollie Carroll kept his side in control, and five minutes, Harry Shaw nodded home a fourth before a quick transition after winning the ball in midfield allowed man of the match Lis to grab his second.
The Linnets came out with renewed vigour after the break, but it counted for little, with four more goals coming before the final whistle, with two coming from the penalty spot and two from corners.
Brandon Jewell fired home from 12 yards before Shaw nodded home his second of the day. Jamie Wrapson then sent Renouf the wrong way before Cal Archer converted another corner.
New Milton Town faces Downton tomorrow at home at 7.45pm travelling to face Frimley Green on Saturday at 3pm.