Velocity Wessex Division One football: New Milton Town suffer 4-0 defeat against Fleetlands FC

Velocity Wessex Division One

Fleetlands FC 4

New Milton Town FC 0

New Milton Town manager Ben Hatch said he “couldn’t be more proud” after his side’s remarkable fight for league survival faltered at the final hurdle.

The Linnets came up against an in-form Fleetlands – the side took seven wins and three draws in their last 10 – whose four-goal winning margin secured the final play-off spot by one goal.

In November, when manager Ban Hatch and his backroom staff entered the club, they sat rock-bottom with no points, but after a hugely emotional few weeks, which included a last-gasp point against Newport (I0W), they were on the brink of survival.

The side entered level on points with Frimley Green, who lost their final game of the season, but The Linnets’ legs finally went, and Fleetlands deserved their win at The Powder Monkey Park.

New Milton Town manager, a former Christchurch FC player and manager who prides himself on the attacking style of his teams, said: “We arrived at Fleetlands, and we felt positive. We knew we were up against a tough team that was unbeaten in 10, but how we turned this team around was with togetherness, and we knew we had the fight in us.

“Unfortunately, three corners got the better of us and then got us late on, as they were far fitter than us and, in the last 15 minutes, we were holding on.

“I’m going to have a week off and enjoy some time off, then meet with the club and talk about next season to try and get the club back to how it was last season.”

The opening goal only took nine minutes to arrive when Jamie Winter grabbed his second of the season, outjumping the defence to power a header past New Milton Town keeper Jacob James.

James has shown his talent in recent weeks, and he was unlucky in conceding Alfie Lis’s effort after 18 minutes, with the player sweeping home the rebound after an excellent stop from the keeper.

The third goal came 10 minutes before the break, with Dale Mason, lurking at the back post, finishing well.

Ben Kelly had the best chance to ignite some Milton belief before the break, but his effort sailed wide, and the half ended at 3-0.

After the break, The Linnets showed stubbornness and resilience, which has become a staple of their performances in recent months.

The young attacker Barney Stone almost capitalised on a haphazard piece of defending from the hosts, which saw both centre-backs laying on the ground, but his quickly taken lob beat the keeper and the crossbar.

Oli Page added a fourth down the home straight, but New Milton Town fought every duel until the referee blew the final whistle.