Wessex League football: Thompson heroics New Milton squeak past Newport

Wessex League Division 1

Newport 0

New Milton Town 1

THE Linnets further increased their lead at the top the table with a narrow win over their nearest rivals due in no small part to heroics from keeper Sammy Thompson.

New Milton now have a four-point cushion over Newport after returning from the island with all three points thanks to George Deem's goal.

However, the Port do have four games in hand on New Milton, while third placed Andover – only a further point back – have played five games fewer.

But free-scoring Town have points on the board, and the chasing pack will have to be at their best to overtake.

It took all of five minutes for Deem to put New Milton in front, popping his effort past a wrongfooted Newport keeper Joe McCormack.

Milton keeper Thompson was heavily involved in two chances for the home side, escaping penalty appeals as he dived into Joe Craig, and then saving superbly from Craig again as Newport dominated the first half.

Newport were awarded a penalty in the second half but man-of-the-match Thompson again proved invaluable to the Linnets' clean sheet, saving well to his right from Connor Kelly.

Kelly was incensed not to be given the chance to make amends from the spot five minutes from time after being tripped at the edge of the box, the resulting free kick headed away to safety.

New Milton host Fleetlands tomorrow (Tuesday) before taking on Hamworthy at the DMW on Saturday.

New Milton: Thompson, Eavis, Parnell, Kelly, Lines, Scott, Rudd, Turner, Deem, Cooper, Sampson, Stones. Subs: Booker, Woolley, Bennett