BOSS Glenn Burnett saw New Milton stage “the greatest comeback since Lazarus” to leave their Wessex Premier fate on a knife edge.
Burnett feared Linnets’ destiny had been decided by half-time after the Humbugs had raced into a 3-0 lead at Hayling College.
The visitors, who had needed at least a point to avoid falling through the trapdoor, were rocked by Alex Easton’s double and a Steve Black effort.
However, a stirring second-half comeback saw goals from Alex Baldacchino, Rob DeSport and Ryan Case throw New Milton a lifeline.
Although Linnets climbed out of the bottom two, only victory for Hamworthy United at Brading this week will preserve their top-flight status.
Burnett said: “The players gave everything in the second half and I applauded them off. It was a brilliant turnaround.
“It was a different story at half-time and, when they left the dressing room, I looked at a few of their faces and they looked done. I wondered how we were going to come back.”
Linnets made a dreadful start when Easton fired the hosts ahead from the penalty spot in the first minute before DeSport missed a sitter with the score at 1-0.
Burnett said: “The penalty took the wind out of our sails and got their tails up. Just before they scored their second, we had one of the easiest chances you will ever see in football. Rob was in the middle of the goal and put it wide from about a yard out. It was a Ronnie Rosenthal moment!”
Burnett added: “We were shocking in the first half and there were a few home truths said at half-time. We told the players it was possible to get back into the game and reminded them about Liverpool in the Champions League final against AC Milan.
“We looked like we might go on to win it in the second half. It was a great game and their management team came straight over to us at the end to wish us luck, which was a nice gesture.
“Hopefully, Hamworthy can do us a favour now. I am sure they would rather drive a few miles to New Milton next season than have a £400 day trip to the Isle of Wight!”
Linnets: Rowe, Morris, Donaldson, Holland, Curtis, Case, Barge (Davies, 50), Stuart (Proctor, 60), Baldacchino, Moth, DeSport. Unused subs: Graham, McFarlane, Burnett.
• Goals from Luke Ingram and Fawzi Saadi earned Poppies a 2-2 draw at relegated Laverstock & Ford. Poppies, who look certain to finish ninth, complete their campaign with a rearranged trip to GE Hamble tomorrow.
Poppies: Frampton, Crow, Molyneaux, Brennan, Crutcher, Watt, Vaughan, Ingram, Ewen, Saadi, Hogan. Unused subs: Phillipson-Masters, Mas.
• Mike Haskell plundered a hat-trick as champions Verwood put the finishing touches to their Wessex One campaign with a 4-2 win at Petersfield Town. Nathan Saxby was also on target for Adie Arnold’s men who were presented with the trophy ahead of kick-off at Love Lane.
Potters: Lynch, Evans, Anderton (Wrixton, 75), Delaney, Kelly, Gajic, Dyer, Webb (Smith, 62), Haskell (Saxby, 57), Satterley, Homer. Unused subs: Sheppard, Dear.
• Martin Edwards netted twice as Ringwood team went down 5-2 at Hythe & Dibden.
Ringwood: Daley, W Hole, Osman, Mullings, Pierson, Ridout (Steele, 80), Manning, Elezi, Brown, Edwards, Midson. Unused subs: Tyler, Roberts.
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