LYMINGTON & NEW MILTON F.C.

Match Report 2000/2001 Hussey inspires Linnets' four-play Saturday 16th December 2000 : Jewson Wessex League Gosport Borough 1, Lymington & New Milton 4

With manager Derek Binns' words on the previous week's shock defeat in the F.A. Vase probably still ringing in their ears, Lymington & New Milton set out to restore some balance to their season against a Gosport side that had shown a marked improvement in recent weeks. A run of form including four straight league wins in November had resulted in the home side being awarded the Daily Echo 'Wessex Club of the month' award and the presentation was made prior to this match.

It was therefore entirely in keeping that the Privett Park side should take an early lead through Jon Wallsgrove and for a while it seemed that another shock result might be on the cards for the visitors. Gradually, however, and with some determination, the Linnets hauled themselves into contention and a period of sustained pressure midway through the first-half resulted in two excellent strikes by Stuart Hussey showing why his signature had been sought after by a number of clubs when he and his brother decided to leave Totton.

With the home team now forced to play 'catch-up', Lymington & New Milton were able to play 'on the break' and one such attack just before half-time saw striker Leigh Phillips finish of a swift attacking move with an acrobatic overhead kick with the Gosport 'keeper beaten as much by Phillips' audacity as his execution.

Half-Time : Gosport 1, L. & N.M. 3

Having established a comfortable margin, the visitors were now able to dictate the pace of the game and this meant pressing for more goals. Within five minutes of the restart, following a period of almost complete domination by the Linnets, midfielder Mark Smith was on hand to score the fourth goal and put the result beyond any lingering hopes that Gosport may have held.

The remaining half-hour of the game was one of almost complete control by Lymington & New Milton and manager Binns took advantage to rotate his squad, bringing on Mottashed, Holmes and Town in place of Brett Phillips, Stuart Hussey & Nick Miles. This may have disrupted the rhythm of the Linnets' play since no further goals resulted and while it would be churlish to criticise a thoroughly convincing four-goal display away from home, with current leaders Andover showing absolutely no mercy in piling on the goals in their games, this may seem like an opportunity lost.

Lymington & New Milton : Kearn, Stride, Gazzard, Kemp, Morris, B. Phillips, Strong, N. Miles, Smith, S. Hussey, L. Phillips, subs : Mottashed, Holmes, Town.

Match reports on this site are based on those appearing in the New Milton Advertiser & Lymington Times (except where separately credited) with additional material from my own resources where relevant.