Midweek football: New Milton, AFC Totton, Hythe & Dibden, Ringwood, Brockenhurst and Totton & Eling in action
New Milton were on the right side of an eight-goal thriller as six local sides contested midweek matches.
The Linnets, fresh from their 4-0 victory on Saturday away at Cove, ran out 5-3 winners on Wednesday thanks to a brace from Barney Stone alongside strikes from Cam McMonagle, Brad Snelling and Cam Smith.
New Milton found themselves 3-0 to the good on 17 minutes, after which Romsey hooked defender Alex Wilson who had been carded after the second goal.
Romsey pulled three goals back in the second half but New Milton had too much firepower and put the game beyond doubt with a late strike.
Hythe and Dibden turned in a fine performance against a highly fancied Millbrook side, edging them 3-2.
Dylon Hacon put the home side ahead on 21 minutes after a finishing at the near post from a through ball.
Mark Barker then put the Dockers on equal terms after his teammate James White walloped the crossbar with a fierce shot. Barker should have make it 2-1 to the visitors but he couldn’t keep his shot down.
Millbrook did take the lead through White midway through the second half, but it lasted all of eight minutes as Sam Lewis finished well from a knock-down.
With seven minutes to go Cain Prentice was scythed down in the box and Ryan Batley made no mistake from the spot.
Millbrook had a strong shout for a penalty of their own shortly before the final whistle, but their protests were waved away, and H&D held on.
AFC Totton triumphed in front of a derby crowd of more than a thousand at fierce rivals Sholing.
Both sides struggled to create chances during a typically tense but competitive first half, the Boatmen going close with a back-post header steered over by ex-Totton midfielder Charlie Gunson.
Three minutes before half-time, Totton were awarded a penalty for handball from Tom Blair’s cross. Scott Rendell coolly sent Ross Worner the wrong way to put the Stags ahead, somewhat against the run of play.
Five minutes into the second period, Worner produced a brilliant save to palm Tony Lee’s volley past the post. But Totton kept on coming and got their just rewards six minutes past the hour when Luke Hallett darted in at the near post to convert a low centre from Marcus Daws, after the hosts had failed to properly clear a left-wing corner.
Sholing boss Paul Doswell made a triple-change but Totton defended resolutely, ready to spring on the counter-attack. And two fresh-legged substitutes combined to wrap up the win with a stunning goal on 89 minutes. Charlie Austin controlled a long ball and advanced to the right wing before picking out Ethan Taylor on the opposite flank. The winger’s first touch put space between himself and his marker, and from 25 yards out, he struck a sweet, curling left-footed shot across Worner and into the net via the foot of the right-hand post.
Brockenhurst shared the points with Bournemouth Poppies in a six-goal thriller, conceding the equaliser in the fourth minute of extra time.
Poppies started well and put the home side under pressure from the off, Tyrone Carkeet and Joe Weardon with good efforts both put over the bar.
The pressure eventually told, with Josh Spink getting on the end of a fine Carkeet free kick, putting Poppies into a deserved lead.
After more good chances for the visitors, Dylan Walker found the Badgers’ equaliser, putting past keeper Jakub Lewiarz with a half volley.
A minute before the break and Brock were ahead, Jake Adams finding the net.
Brock started the second 45 from where they left off, pressing Poppies into their own half, forcing a corner in the 46th minute, which came to nothing.
Poppies found their composure and had a good shout for a penalty waved away, before Richard Bakary found the net only for the linesman’s flag to save the Badgers.
More prolonged Poppies possession saw a raft of chances for the visitors, but Brock defended well.
The equaliser came on 77 minutes as Jonny Davis finished a Spink cross, but that lead lasted mere seconds as Brockenhurst marched down the other end, Rhys Taylor grabbing the goal.
A series of free kicks for Poppies came and went without issue for Brock, but just as it looked like they’d done enough, 85th minute sub Connor Le Clercq got on the end of a long ball from Craig Stanley and finished well across Will Butler.
Two second half goals were enough to consign Blackfield & Langley to a home defeat at the hands of Andover New Street.
The Watersiders have yet to register a win in four games so far this season, and the Street were quickly out of the blocks with two chances in the first five minutes.
Keegan Kelly nearly opened the score for B&L in the 11th minute, but he popped his effort just wide, before Dyllan Roocroft’s shot was saved well by Andover keeper Matthew Fredericks.
Kelly was in the thick of the action as the half ticked away, his shot hitting a defender before finding the head of Ashton Palmier who headed over.
With honours even at half time, Andover came out firing again, B&L keeper Oliver Harrison making a fine save dealing with a shot from distance.
Jack Mann and Joe Merrett then had excellent chances to put the Watersiders ahead, and Andover made them pay on 61 minutes as Callum Sweeney’s shot took a wicked deflection before finding its way past Harrison.
B&L substitutes Harry Edmondson and Joe Roberts nearly had an immediate impact, the former finding the latter who put his effort just over, and Kelly again provided for Palmier who hit wide.
Andover forward Josh Moore put the game to bed a minute into injury time, putting past Harrison who had saved well from the initial attempt.
Ringwood Town returned from their short trip to Totton & Eling with all three points, after both had made decent starts to the season.
Tim Hopper was the only scorer, grabbing Ringwood’s goal in the second half, leaving the side one of five teams setting the early pace on six points.