Match report: Ringwood Town FC came from behind to beat Totton & Eling 5-4 in Velocity Wessex Division One
Ringwood Town came out on top with a 5-4 victory in a ding-dong nine-goal battle against Totton & Eling, climbing to within one point of the Velocity Wessex Division One play-off places.
Ringwood Town have been in remarkable form lately, only suffering losses twice in the last 16 league matches to storm up the table and put themselves in the play-off hunt.
Lee Vint grabbed a hat-trick for Ringwood Town, with Josh Ridland and Matty Gollings grabbing the other two, while Totton & Eling’s goals came from a Dylan Male brace and strikes from Harry Yeadon and Jordan Smith.
“I aged about five years watching that match”, said Ringwood Town manager Fran Mathers. “I’m a big believer in that you play how you train, and it was easy to see how rusty we were, having been unable to do much over Christmas.
“Defences at both ends made basic errors and looked rusty. Lee Vint was unbelievable again and is in lethal form, not just in terms of goals, but his hold-up and combination play is a joy to watch.
“Another teenager was given an opportunity, and Matty Gollings scored and assisted in his first Wessex League start. The skipper Josh Ridland scored a big goal with a fantastic Bergkamp-esque finish. It was a very surreal game, with both teams trying to adapt psychologically and tactically to find the answers.”
Ringwood Town have a challenging contest coming up against Lymington Town. Lymington have been on an impressive run that had seen them take 10 points from a possible 12 until coming up against runaway league leaders New Milton Town on Saturday.
Mathers continued: “Thankfully, we had enough to get the job done. I’m proud of the character shown by my lads. At 2-0 down and then 3-1, not many come back from that, but full credit my players.
“We’ll have to be so much better against a much improved Lymo side who will be up for it. They gave us a torrid time in the first half at their place, and we’ll have to prep and be at our best to get anything from the game. We’re under no illusions, and the lads will be busy this week.”
Both sides return to league action on Saturday at 3pm, with Ringwood Town hosting an in-form Lymington Town and Totton & Eling welcoming Clanfield.
Ringwood Town: C. Griffin, B. Bradwell, P. Correia, J. Rabin, H. Dathan, T. Hopper, M. Gollings, J. Wintle, L. Vint, J. Ridland, B. Harris. Subs: D. Whitelaw, J. Petty, J. Stoodley, B. Chester, B. Yates.
Totton & Eling: T. Widger, A. Pattison, J. Hughes, T. Pattison, J. Smith, W. Hall, J. Clarke, D. Sadler, H. Yeadon, J. Craven, D. Male. Subs: S. Hanson, G. Cole, O. Dennett, L. Goulding.
