Mid-week football round-up: New Milton Town keep hope alive as AFC Totton goes second, while Lymington Town, Christchurch, Hythe & Dibden, Fawley AFC and Totton & Eling all play
IN the latest round of mid-week fixtures, New Milton Town snatched a dramatic victory to put league survival in their own hands.
Eight weeks ago, The Linnets looked dead and buried with just two points, but victory over Newport puts the two sides above them in danger.
Third-from-bottom New Milton hold a game in hand over Ash United and Frimley Green, who sit two points and level on points but four goals ahead on goal difference, respectively.
Also in action was the victorious AFC Totton, who moved up to second in the league, while Christchurch, Hythe & Dibden, and Fawley AFC all drew, with Lymington Town and Totton & Eling suffering defeats.
After a flying start against Newport, it looked as if the Linnets would have to settle for a point until youth academy product Barney Stone swept home a late winner to spark wild celebrations.
Manager Ben Hatch had the hosts fired up, and they made an excellent start, with Jamie Morgan racing clear before keeper Leon Pitman, in an attempt to clear the ball, wiped out the New Milton side for a clear penalty.
Brad Snelling has been in excellent form lately, and he accepted responsibility, caressing the ball into the bottom left corner to make it 1-0.
The visitors recovered well and began to exert control over the game. After around 20 minutes, a pinball situation in the box allowed Sonny Myram to crash the ball home with his weaker foot.
After the break, New Milton fought for every ball, and they forced the visitors deeper and deeper as the match progressed, but it looked destined for a draw.
However, youngster Stone, who started the season in the New Milton youth team, had other ideas, reacting instinctively, sweeping home a fierce strike that flew into the top corner from the six-yard line.
To survive, The Linnets – who have a game in hand on all the sides near them – need to take a point more than Frimley Green, or overtake their four-goal goal difference advantage or score three points more than Ash United.
AFC Totton performed a professional job as they triumphed 3-0 over relegation-threatened Plymouth Parkway, lifting them to second in the league – a remarkable achievement as it is their first year in the league after gaining promotion.
The Stags started brightly, and an early goal rewarded their efforts. Jordan Ragguette, newly returned from injury, curled a brilliant ball forward for Ethan Taylor, whose teasing back-post cross found Joan Luque, who turned the ball home.
The visitors doubled their advantage before the interval when Leon Maloney slashed a finish across the keeper into the bottom right corner.
Just before the hour mark, midfield workhorse Adam Tomasso lined up a shot from outside the area, and although his effort looked as if it was on its way anyway, the touch of the unfortunate Callum Rose made sure it did.
Lymington Town’s brief stay in the Wessex Premier league is over, but a 6-0 defeat to Sherborne Town added some salt to the wound.
After they were relegated from the league above for ground grading reasons at the end of last season and a mass exodus of all but one player, Lymo have struggled to get going this season.
Dec Cornish grabbed a hat-trick for the Zebras, with Brad Sheppard, Ollie Hebbard and Ben Wood also on the scoresheet.
Cornish’s final goal was an unstoppable David Beckham-esque free-kick that looped over the wall before curling into the near top corner, leaving the keeper rooted to the spot.
Hythe & Dibden and Christchurch faced off in a 1-1 draw, with Nasim Meddah giving Church the lead after 13 minutes before Liam Goilding levelled.
Fawley AFC and Romsey Town have been neck-and-neck for much of the season, and any hopes the Oilers had of finally gaining some breathing room evaporated with a hard-fought single-goal draw.
After missing an earlier chance, striker Josh Munro made no mistake after racing through, slotting a classy finish past Romsey’s Miles Bartram.
Despite a red card to Craig Bryant after 20 minutes, Romsey came from behind to level when Charlie Hawes pounced on a long ball and slotted home.
Finally, Totton & Eling were on the wrong side of a 3-0 scoreline against East Cowes Victoria, who kept themselves in the final promotion play-off place.