ANOTHER LOT OF NEIGHBOURS AIMING FOR THE BRICKIES' SCALP!

AROUND 5pm last Saturday, New Milton Town and Ringwood Town were suffering vastly different fortunes in the FA Vase second qualifying round. While the Brickies were carving out a 4-3 penalties win after a 1-1 draw at Baffins Milton Rovers, Ringwood were going the reverse route - 1-1 draw at home to Hamworthy United - but lost 4-3 on pens. That should fire up our neighbours for the chance to do as even-nearer neighbours Lymington did last Wednesday, and take at least a point from the runaway Wessex Division One leaders. The draw with Lymo was a hiccup the Brickies overcame superbly on Saturday, but now they will have to raise their game again. The fact is that they are currently THE scalp to be had in this division so inevitably everyone is going raise their game against them, especially where there is a bit of local bragging to be had. Ringwood are having a decent season, just one defeat in the league in seven games so far, three wins and three draws leaving them handily-placed just outside the play-off zone in eighth place. So this is no pushover for the Brickies, even though they got through on Saturday short of several key players, not least regular scorers Joe Roberts and Niall Dixon, both of whom are touch and go to start tonight. Ringwood began their league season with a 2-2 draw at home to Aldermaston, then lost 2-1 at Whitchurch and drew 1-1 at home to Hamworthy United, before they clicked into gear with a 3-2 home win against Frimley Green, then a 1-0 home win against Blandford and a 5-0 whacking of struggling Totton and Eling. A 0-0 draw at Cove completed their league schedule so far - but they also motoring well in the Hampshire Senior Cup, where they have seen off Newport IoW 3-0 and Christchurch 3-1 to set up a third round date with the mighty Stoneham. Just like last Wednesday, this one is unlikely to be for the faint-hearted at the GD Print Stadium. See you there for the 7.445 kick-off - and of course, #UptheBrickies!!