NEW Milton assistant-manager Richie Phippard rued their bad luck after they slumped to heavy defeat at Premier pacesetters Totton.

The struggling Fawcett's Field outfit looked as though they were going to hold last season's FA Vase finalists to 0-0 at half time.

But then Totton broke away to net through Fouad Hamodu in the 40th minute, before second half strikes from Matt Troon, Mark Osman and Mike Gosney propelled them four points clear of Poole Town at the top.

Phippard said: "We were a bit unfortunate to go 1-0 down at half time.

"Although they had us under a bit of pressure, their first goal was a bit fortuitous to say the least.

"We had a player, Dan Pidgely, injured and although he had got up off the ground, the ref, who had checked whether he was okay, re-started the game with a free kick without letting him get back into position.

"It was a free kick 10 yards outside Totton's penalty area, but they took it 15 yards further forward than that and went on to score from the situation.

"The guy took the goal well but it was disappointing from our point of view because we had done well up until then."

Phippard added: "People will look at 4-0 and think it was a bit of a hammering, but the second, third and fourth goals were all avoidable.

"I don't think Totton were four goals better than us, but that's the way it goes against a top side when you are near the bottom."

New Milton: Jones, Marks, R Chengadu, K Chengadu (Holt 82), Neville (Malloy 70), Walker, Smith, Burt (Sampays 75), Pidgely, Ewen, Long. Unused sub: Henwood.