New Milton Town FC rise above the chaos to secure Ash United FC victory
Velocity Wessex Division One
Ash United FC 2
New Milton Town FC 3
NEW Milton Town’s Barney Stone led the way with a brace, helping to see off a decent Ash United side.
The young Linnets striker has now scored in six successive games to help lead his side to third in the league and reaffirm his status as the division’s top-scorer.
“It’s fair to say that in all my time involved with football, I’ve never seen anything like this match,” said New Milton Town first-team manager Matt Maybury.
“The lads gave absolutely everything out there on a day when it seemed the world was against us. Not only on the field issues, but we were plagued with injuries, leggy lads from the FA Youth Cup game the night before, and unavailability, so to come away with three points was huge.
“The character they all showed is a credit to them and emphasises what a tight-knit group they are.”
Ash equalised from the penalty spot before Linnets’ keeper Ollie Bull was sent to the sin-bin – Brad Snelling pulled on the keeper’s gloves and did brilliantly – before manager Maybury was sent from the dug-out.
However, the adversity seemed to spur on New Milton, who finished the half ahead after a stunning goal from Callum McHale.
“The goal from Cal just before half-time was key, and then to get another straight after the break was exactly what I had asked for,” added Maybury.
“We had to dig deep in the last 10 minutes, but we showed real determination and grit to win the game.”
The game’s opening goal arrived after 22 minutes. Snelling showed footwork that belied his years before firing against the woodwork. The ever-alert Stone reacted, tapping home, meaning he has scored in every league game this season in a run that includes a hat-trick against Clanfield.
Ash won and scored a penalty with 30 minutes played before shot-stopper Bull earned a stay in the sin-bin.
Two minutes later, Maybury received his marching orders, but moments after Bull returned to the field, Milton restored their lead when McHale scored a delightful dipping strike from 25 yards.
Five minutes after the restart, Stone struck his second of the afternoon before Ash pulled one back in the 63rd minute.
Ash grew into the game in the latter stages, but New Milton held on for a deserved victory, leaving them in third, two points off the top spot.
The Linnets face another week-long countdown to their next fixture when they host Fleetlands at the DMW Stadium on Saturday, with the kick-off at 3pm.
New Milton Town: O. Bull, T. Steele, J. Hall, C. McHale, B. Snelling, B. Stone, L. Moore, B. Maybury, H. Thornton, J. Broad, J. Foden. Subs: O. Mayo, T. Colmer, J. Kerney, L. Lane, C. Raisen.
