BRICKIES IN THE GROOVE WITH ANOTHER GOOD WIN ON THE ROAD

ANOTHER game, a 4-1win, another three points - although until the final ten minutes it was not the cakewalk the scoreline might suggest. There’s no doubt the Brickies were the better side, and certainly deserved to win, but Lloyd Thomas saved an Alresford penalty when it was only 1-0 and and for a slightly anxious while in the second half it was only 2-1. Eventually, however, the Brickies saw it through, manager Jamie Kay fully-utilising what was a very strong bench. After starting the season well, Alresford have found it tough in recent weeks - but their added incentive here, as it has been for many of New Milton’s recent opponents, is to be having a crack at the runaway league leaders. Consequently the opening stages were fairly even, although in the 28th minute the Brickies conjured up an excellent move, Callum Clarke setting up Louis Whetton for a perfectly-executed lob over the keeper’s head. Even so, the lead might not have lasted until the interval. Two minutes before the break the referee saw a foul in the Brickies’ penalty area and awarded Alresford a spot-kick. However, what could have been a 1-1 interval scoreline remained at 1-0 as Lloyd Thomas - the recent FA Vase hero for the Brickies at Baffins, dived full length left to save. It was soon obvious in the second half that 1-0 was going to be a bit precarious, so there was a touch of relief on 54 minutes when Callum McHale added the second - again on an assist from Cal Clarke. Any thoughts that this would be enough were quickly blown away when the ref awarded Alresford another penalty, Freddie Franklin being pulled up for a foul. This time Lloydie couldn’t make the save and it was once again game-on. To freshen things, Oli Lowes, Noel McCarthy-Gardiner and fit-again Niall Dixon, came off the bench and there were few scares after that. In the last ten minutes it was all wrapped up. Jake Carswell took a pop from long distance and it curled perfectly into the top right corner. The brakes came off then and it might well have been an even bigger runaway win. Cal Clarke, deservedly named Man of the Match, almost got on the scoresheet himself several times before teeing up the fourth goal with a perfect cross for Noel McCarthy-Gardiner to complete the job. There were more late chances, including one for sub Hector Rayner, but further scoring would probably have put an unfair slant on the scoreline for an Alresford side who gave it a go.

NEW MILTON: Thomas; Pearce-Eavis, Franklin, Burns, Husher, Broad (Rayner 86), Carswell, Whetton (Lowes 70), Lane (Dixon 70), Clarke (Smith 90), McHale (McCarthy-Gardiner 66).

Attendance: 152 Man of the Match: Callum Clarke
 UPCOMING: The Brickies now have a week off before next Saturday’s home match against Colden Common. Please note that the match which should have been at Newport IoW on Tuesday has been postponed because Newport have a problem with their floodlighting.