'AWAY GAME' WHERE THE BRICKIES SHOULD FEEL RIGHT AT HOME!

THE table-topping Brickies have the chance to make it six wins from six League games tomorrow (Tuesday 1st) evening at the GD Print Stadium where Romsey Town are the visitors. The plus-factor for New Milton is that although they are on familiar turf, it is actually an “away” game and will be counted as such - Romsey will come here again in November for New Milton’s actual home game. Romsey have sportingly forfeited the right to entertain New Milton this season because it was the second occasion already when they have been unable to stage this fixture at their own stadium. When the original date, in early August, was postponed, the re-arrangement was made for tomorrow - the logic being that Romsey’s stadium would by then be ready for night matches. However, the club has been unlucky enough to be out of action because, through no fault of their own, a local “electrical fault” outside the stadium, has left them, literally, in the dark regarding floodlights, and that is still the case. In fact it’s been a strange old season all round for Romsey, who sit 16th in the table, having played only four games. On opening day they were the “spare” of the 21 teams in the league before losing 3-1 at home - in daylight - to Cove. After that came a hard-fought 4-3 win at Hamworthy United, followed by a 1-1 draw with Blandford, and a 3-1 loss to Fawley. Along the way they had a useful 3-2 away win at Clanfield in the FA Vase, a 1-0 loss at Bashley in the League Cup, and earlier a 1-0 loss at Petersfield in the Hants Cup. Whatever the list, they look a capable side with a couple of good away wins in that record so far - so nothing can be taken for granted, home advantage or not. PS: The man in the picture - one of many taken by Les Chase (www.leschasephotography.co.uk) is Elliott Pearce-Eavis, newly-named by fans and officials as the club's Player of the Month for August.