DEPLETED New Milton Town defied their lack of players to give themselves a fighting chance of dodging the Wessex Premier drop.

Linnets registered a potentially priceless 2-0 home win over Bournemouth Poppies on Saturday - despite having no fit substitutes available.

Darren Curtis's men had to make do with just a starting XI as injured Max Sampays was the only player named on the bench.

But strikes from Ben Thomson and Simon De'ath helped Milton climb off the foot of the table on goal difference.

They could further enhance their survival hopes when they host local rivals Lymington Town at Fawcett's Field this morning (11am). Milton are eight points behind their neighbours with two games in hand.

Player-manager Curtis told the Daily Echo: “The aim was to get a win on Saturday to give us something to fight for.”

Linnets: Hookway, Blackburn, De'ath, Curtis, Booker, Donaldson, Thomson, Barge, Egerton, Ngwa, Holloway. Unused sub: Sampays.

  • Verwood boss Adie Arnold slammed his team's performance after their 0-0 draw at Lymington Town.

Potters had netted 17 goals in their previous five league games but fell well short of those prolific standards.

Arnold admitted: “It was a shocking advert for Wessex Premier football.”

Verwood will be hoping to improve when they host Christchurch at Potterne Park today (3pm).

Priory warmed up for the derby match with a 3-0 win at Moneyfields thanks to Ben Osborne (2) and Cherries prospect Harry Cornick.

Potters: Lynch, Evans, Smith, Kelly, Murray, Gajic (Kimber, 75), Dyer, Webb, Hill, R Long, Haskell (O'Sullivan, 80). Unused sub: J Long.

Priory: Frampton, Thompson, Steer, Legg, Dillon, Burden, Crutchley, Yelland, Cornick, Cook, Osborne. Unused subs: Dand, Lloyd, Cullen, Collins (g/k).

Hammers: Knights, Head, Ayling, Horlock (Pekun, 60), Murray, Lanahan, Wyatt, Sturgess, Penny, Chudy (Bassiriki, 80), Shovelton (Carlile, 70). Unused sub: Tong (g/k).