New Milton Town beat Hamworthy United as Brad Snelling breaks drought

Velocity Wessex Division One

New Milton Town FC 2

Hamworthy United FC 0

NEW Milton Town defeated Hamworthy United by two goals at the newly named M.A. Hart Stadium on Saturday.

Two brilliantly created goals from Callum McHale and Brad Snelling sealed victory as manager Matt Maybury returned to the dugout after two weeks away.

The home side were the first to create a chance. Snelling’s looping header looked destined to drop into the net, but Hammers’ keeper, Jeremy James, somehow managed to backpedal and palm the ball away.

It wouldn’t be the first expert save made by the visiting goalkeeper during the game.

Bailey Rowe then sneaked through a parting New Milton Town defence, but his shot one-on-one with Ollie Bull was saved with his feet – two big chances after only eight minutes of play.

Jack Broad would go down with a suspected knee injury in the 17th minute, and by the 36th minute, he had to be withdrawn, with Ollie Mayo coming on in his place.

New Milton had made a substitution just minutes earlier, with Barney Stone replacing MacMonagle.

Before the substitutions, though, New Milton had taken the lead. Billy Maybury’s cross-field ball was perfectly weighted as it flew over Ben Marsh’s head to McHale, who brought it down superbly before finishing calmly with his right foot.

The half ended with two big chances for the home side, with Barney Stone’s powerful effort across the goalkeeper being saved and McHale clipping the outside of the post.

It was a slow start to the second half until the game burst into life once more in the 52nd minute.

Bull made an exceptional save one-on-one, blocking the ball after making himself big—Peter Schmeichel-esque—and on the breakaway, the lead for New Milton was doubled in devastating fashion.

Barney Stone ran down the right wing before crossing in low. Noel McCarthy-Gardiner’s first-time back-heeled flick fell into the path of Snelling, who controlled well before caressing the ball into the corner of the net. It was his first goal for the club since the 7th of September in a 4-0 home win against Alresford Town.

Snelling could have struck more if not for the brilliant James in the Hamworthy United goal, whilst Stone also went close as he looked to extend his lead at the top of the Wessex League scoring charts.

The away side struggled to create chances against New Milton’s well-drilled defence, and the game ended shortly after midweek signing Ben Beard came on for his debut.

Matchday sponsors Reg Against The Machine awarded Billy Maybury man-of-the-match after the game, while McHale was awarded the club’s October player-of-the-month gong.

New Milton remains top of the Wessex League Division One and travels to Westleigh Park – home of Havant & Waterlooville – to take on Clanfield next Saturday at 3pm.

New Milton Town: O. Bull, J. Kinge-Phillips, C. Smith, B. Maybury, L. Moore, T. Colmer, J. Broad, C. MacMonagle, N. McCarthy-Gardiner, C. McHale, B. Snelling. Subs: B. Stone, O. Mayo, H. Thornton, B. Beard.