SIMON Browne piloted Hamworthy United to third place in Wessex Premier after finally laying to rest his Bournemouth Poppies hoodoo.

Dominic Allen’s penalty and a finely-taken Lee Chudy strike earned Hammers a 2-1 win over their neighbours at the County Ground tonight.

The triumph also saw Browne preside over a victory against Poppies at the eighth time of asking, the jinx having stretched back to his appointment in October 2009.

Although ex-Hammers midfielder Aaron Corby headed home to halve the deficit with 21 minutes remaining, the hosts ran out worthy winners.

Poppies, who briefly threatened to snatch a draw during the closing stages, were left still searching for their first league point of the season following a sixth successive defeat.

Allen opened the scoring from the spot after Lewis Burgis had shoved Stefan Penny with Poppies goalkeeper Sean Lillington having saved Chudy’s effort from point-blank range inside the opening 60 seconds.

Chudy’s sublime close control failed to match his finish when he wasted a presentable chance in the 32nd minute before Connor Phillips blazed over for Poppies five minutes before the break.

Hammers doubled their lead midway through the second half when Chudy finished with aplomb into the bottom corner with Corby glancing Max Crow’s free-kick past Andy Knights after 69 minutes.

Browne told the Daily Echo: “I thought we played some good football for the first 20 to 25 minutes and should have scored two, maybe, three goals.

“It has happened a couple of times this season where we have put ourselves under a bit of pressure because we haven’t killed off teams.

“I told the boys they had played really well but said they had to learn to go for the kill when we get teams by the throat.

“If we had come in at half-time two goals to the good, I don’t think they could have complained. I was surprised we let them back into the game after we had scored our second.

“I was relieved because it was the first time since I have been here that I have come out on top against them. It was nice to get over the line and to get that monkey off my back.”

Wimborne boss Steve Cuss was an interested spectator at the County Ground ahead of the Magpies’ eagerly-awaited FA Cup preliminary round showdown with Hammers at Cuthbury on Saturday.

Cuss told the Daily Echo: “I have watched their past two midweek games and they look a good side. They have got some good players and it will be a tough game for us.”

Browne, responding to Cuss’s comments, said: “I think Steve is just trying to be being nice!”

Hammers: Knights, Penny, Holland (Claremont, 76), Tayler (Horlock, 77), Biles, Sturgess, Lanahan, Stacey, Allen, Chudy (Pekun, 85), Hester. Unused subs: Beckles, Bassariki.

Poppies: Lillington, Ayrton (Batchelor, 54), Jackson, Corby, Bartlett, Burgis, Crow, Masson, Burt, Lammali, Phillips. Unused subs: Turner, Cooper, Pearce, Vaughan (g/k).