Match report: New Milton Town FC are Wessex League Division One champions after beating Hamworthy United FC 3-2, AFC Totton drew 1-1 with Taunton Town (Southern League Premier Division South), and Totton & Eling beat Alresford Town 3-2 (Wessex League Division One)

IN a crucial round of Tuesday night fixtures, New Milton Town won the title, AFC Totton lost ground in their race for second, and Totton & Eling grabbed a vital point in their bid for survival.

New Milton Town are now Wessex League Division One champions after showing tremendous heart, with captain Brad Snelling nodding home a 90th-minute winner to seal the title and promotion.

“On the game – we have to be fair to Hamworthy. They played us off the park for the first 30 minutes”, said New Milton manager Matt Maybury. “We had to change shape to deal with them, but from then on, I thought we created chance after chance and were fairly dominant.

“To win at Hamworthy is always difficult, but doing it like that in such an important game was really special. A draw would have been enough as it happened, but Brad’s goal at the end was the icing on the cake.”

The turnaround at New Milton Town under Matt Maybury has been remarkable. Last season, they finished in the bottom three before staying in the league as the possible promoted sides could not fulfil league regulations.

Maybury added: “I think it was glaringly obvious that last season was a real disappointment for the club, and from the moment I took the job, we put plans in place to make it a good place to be again and build an atmosphere where players wanted to be here, and people wanted to watch us. We had to bring it back to being a feel-good club.

“Some of the football this season has been brilliant. We’ve had some great moments when you look back. But we’ve also done that horrible dirty stuff when we needed to.

“All the boys have bought into what we’re doing. It’s not easy to leave people out of squads, but as we’ve gone through the season and strengthened at times, I think everyone has seen the bigger picture. You don’t win this league with a bare 11.”

The last time the Brickmakers – so-called due to the area’s historical links with producing clay bricks – plied their trade in the Wessex League Premier Division was in the 2012/13 season.

“We just need to take a step back and enjoy the next couple of games, and then the work and planning start for next season can begin.

“I think there’s a jump between the two leagues, but we’ve got the foundations in place, and I’ll start chatting to players over the next couple of weeks. A few have committed already, which is always good.

“I’m not one to set targets, but I do think we’ve competed really well and picked up wins against the Wessex League Premier sides we’ve played this season.”

After a rapid start to the contest, New Milton had early appeals for a penalty waved away before Callum McHale had a decent effort saved.

With some lovely interchanging play, Hamworthy responded by sticking the ball in the back of the net, but the linesman flagged for offside.

The hosts took a deserved lead with 14 minutes played when Jack Hughes latched onto a cross, steadied himself and fired beyond Ollie Bull.

The Brickmakers set about restoring parity, but it looked like it would be one of those days when striking the woodwork three times in quick success before the half-time whistle arrived.

Chances kept passing New Milton by, but with 77 minutes played, newly-turner 18-year-old Barney Stone timed his run ideally to sneak in at the back post and tuck the ball home.

About a minute later, New Milton took the lead. Top scorer Snelling got on the end of a great cross to loop his header over Will Butler, putting his side on the brink of promotion and ending a 12-year hiatus from the Wessex League Premier Division.

However, with 86 minutes gone, Josh Malpas blasted it into the bottom corner from a cross to stun the New Milton players and supporters.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man is an idiom that has been used many times, but it was never truer than in the final moments of this match. Hugging the touchline, Dan Bartlett clipped a perfect delivery into Snelling at the back post. The New Milton skipper took the ball in his stride, powering a downwards header beyond the keeper, sparking wild celebrations as New Milton Town won the league title.

AFC Totton lost ground in their fight to finish second in the Southern League Premier Division South table, but they will be happy with a point against Taunton Town after levelling late on despite playing a man down.

Hosts, the Peacocks, took the lead in the 78th, and they looked on course for victory when Luke Hallett saw red two minutes later. However, spot-kick specialist Sam Magri fired a penalty home in the 84th minute to seal a draw.

The first half was a battle of a game, with both sides fighting for every ball. Although both sides created multiple chances, neither really tested the keepers and the half came to a goalless end.

The Stags were increasing their control, but the hosts scored against the run of play through Jayden Nielsen.

Moments after the goal, Taunton managed to spring the offside trap. Hallett took one for the team, delivering a late last-man challenge before seeing the red card.

With six minutes left, the visitors were grateful for an eagle-eyed referee who spotted a handball in the area. Defender Magri took responsibility, firing home his third goal in the last month to seal the draw.

Totton & Eling took a massive step towards league safety with a hard-earned draw against Alresford Town, increasing their buffer to three points above the drop zone with three games left.

The Millers took the lead after a goal from Dillon Male, but Alresford took the lead into the break thanks to Aaron Dunne and Josh Ball. With around 10 minutes left, centre-back George Cole levelled to bolster Totton’s survival hopes.