TWO moments of madness from Wimborne Town goalkeeper Nick Hutchings handed New Milton Town a surprise draw at Cuthbury last night.
The visitors, down to 10 men after captain Dave Ewen saw red and trailing 1-0 following Paul Roast's 32nd-minute header, were given a lifeline when Hutchings bizarrely attempted to control the ball on his chest. From the resulting corner, in an effort to atone for his earlier error, Hutchings punched Ryan Long's inswinger into his own net.
Having been under the cosh for the majority of the game, Trevor Parker's tireless side held on bravely to claim a point.
"The lads were fantastic and I couldn't have asked for more," Parker told the Daily Echo.
Wimborne player-boss Christer Warren, who hit the bar and post with first half set pieces, refused to be too harsh on keeper Hutchings. He said: "He's been brilliant for us this season. He's a confident lad and no doubt he'll look at it and not do it again."
In a tale of two keepers, New Milton stopper Nick Jones produced a faultless performance, capped by a superb 64th-minute save to deny Steve Whitcher.
Wimborne Town: Hutchings, Arnold, McCormick (Whitcher 15), Warren, Roast, Phillipson-Masters, James, Vavrecka, Joyce (Walker 70), Stokoe, Bailey-Pearce. Unused subs: Moore, Languish.
New Milton Town: Jones, Holt, Neville, K Chengadu, R Chengadu, Grace, Long, Smith, Ewen, Marks (Booker 90), Pidgley. Unused subs: Malloy, Borthwick, Sampays, Kabir.
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