Match report: Ringwood Town FC’s Lee Vint grabs a hat-trick to defeat second-placed Wessex League Premier Division side Frimley Green FC 4-3

Ringwood Town claimed a massive scalp, defeating second-placed Frimley Green to maintain their late push for a promotion play-off spot with a 4-3 home win on Saturday.

Ringwood’s in-form striker, Lee Vint, who bagged his 100th goal on his 200th appearance last time out, was on it again, scoring a hat-trick to guide his side to victory. The other goal came from Dan Whitelaw.

“It was a strange game at times,” said Ringwood Town manager Fran Mathers. “I felt we were stronger in large spells of the game. Frimley withstood early pressure from us only to counter with their first effort on goal. Then they scored their third with the last kick, so it was more comfortable than the 4-3 scoreline suggests.

“Lee Vint is in the form of his life and is deservedly taking the plaudits and adulation, but I was very pleased with the attacking line with [Pat] Correia, [Ben] Harris assisting, and Dan Whitelaw scoring another crucial goal for us.

“We’ve found some consistency, and while we know that the sixth spot is only a defeat away from disappearing, we will give it everything we have.”

Buckland added: “Lymington will be another very tough and dangerous opponent we are not taking lightly. I’m confident we can keep pushing, but we will need to maintain the standards and mindset of the last game.”

It was a good start from both teams, but Frimley Green took the lead with 24 minutes played. TJ Taylor raced down the left and put the ball in the danger zone, where Nic Ciardini opened the scoreline.

Ringwood were level before the break, though. Ben Harris lifted the ball over the top to Vint, who jinked and danced his way into the area, manipulating two backtracking defenders before firing through their legs and beating keeper Neil Sanneh.

With 52 minutes played, Vint got his second. In a move that started at the back with keeper Will Griffin, Pat Correia found space on the left before sliding the ball into Vint. The goal machine tried to score with a first-time flick, but he responded well to sweep home his second bite of the cherry.

Josh Bullen came off the bench and, within minutes, levelled for the visitors in the 63rd minute, but the parity would only last three minutes.

Ringwood won the ball in midfield and played the ball forward quickly. Vint volleyed a first-time pass over the defender for Whitelaw to run onto, but he still had a lot of work to do. He cushioned the ball perfectly with his chest before slamming the ball beyond the keeper with a fierce half-volleyed left-footed effort.

While trying to initiate an attack, Frimley keeper Sanneh booted the ball into the back of a defender. Vint reacted instantly, launching himself between the keeper and the ball before lofting the ball over the top of himself and the keeper with an acrobatic bicycle kick effort to make it 4-0.

Frimley did pull one goal back, but Ringwood deserved the win, stretching their unbeaten run to five games.

Ringwood Town take on Lymington Town at home on Saturday.

Ringwood Town: W. Griffin, B. Bradwell, C. Lister, J. Rabin, H. Dathan, L. Ansell, B. Harris, J. Ridland, L. Vint, D. Whitelaw, P. Correia. Subs: M. Steer, L. Crumpler, J. Stoodley, L. Pothas, H. Meadling.