Saturday 25th January 2025
Venue: Ringwood Community Hub
Attendance: 85
It was billed to be a game of passion, drama and suspense as Ringwood Town, with their unbeaten home record, faced off with the league leaders New Milton Town, who coincidentally were unbeaten on the road. The game certainly lived up to expectations.
A man-of-the-match performance from Callum McHale, a man possessed in the second half, sparked the victory after a tough first half for the entire team.
However, as we have seen with the Brickmakers throughout their now extended club record unbeaten run of nineteen games, they just refuse to be beaten.
Manager Matt Maybury said the following after the game.
“That felt like a big one today. Even at 1-0 down I thought we were dominant and a constant threat going forward. Ringwood is a really tough place to go and they’re clearly a good side. To go there when they are unbeaten and score four, and dominate is a credit to the lads. I felt we were probably good for a few more goals too.
The group have such a togetherness. Every single one of them has bought into what we’re trying to do, there’s a real buzz around the dressing room. Overall a brilliant performance that we have to take into next week. A special mention also to the huge number of fans that travelled today, it was great to see so many of you there.”
The home side took the lead on 14 minutes. Lee Vint, their top goalscorer, took advantage of a mistake at the back to rifle the ball past Ollie Bull. In 25 league games, it was only the fifth time that New Milton Town had conceded the first goal of the game.
New Milton Town struggled to string passes together at the beginning, and most of their chance creation from the pace and power of Barney Stone down the right wing. He teed up Dan Bartlett, whose shot was saved by the goalkeeper's legs, after earlier striking the post after being set free by Harry McGrath - playing up top in the absence of Brad Snelling.
Words were said between the away team as they searched for a way to break down the Ringwood defence, and just before halftime, Harry McGrath chested down Elliott Pearce-Eavis's long ball before placing it into the bottom corner with his right foot.
Just at Amesbury a week prior, New Milton had scored just at the right time in the first half.
The second half could not have been more competitive, but Callum McHale made the difference as he sparked 15 minutes of pure madness at the end of the game. His silky run down the left saw him brought down in the box. A penalty was duly awarded and duly dispatched by Dan Bartlett. It was his third goal in three games since joining the club.
Ringwood then dominated possession and had a few efforts at goal before Callum McHale took matters into his own hands again. He dribbled past a defender after slipping, reacting quickest to get back to the ball and rifle the ball into the bottom corner from just outside the area. The goal sparked wild celebrations in the stands from the 50+ travelling fans, the players on the pitch, and the dugout.
It felt like a season-defining moment for the club.
The game wasn't over, though. Fran Mathers's side pulled a goal back within a few minutes to give them hope of an unlikely point, but the goal was followed by Billy Maybury hitting the crossbar from the halfway line after taking a quick free kick. Unbelievably, there was still time for a sixth goal of the game despite being six minutes deep into stoppage time.
Dan Bartlett cut back onto his right foot on the left wing and whipped in a dangerous low cross. It evaded everyone until Barney Stone - from an improbable angle - managed to stretch and direct the ball back across the goal and over the line.
The win keeps New Milton Town five points clear at the top of the Wessex League Division One. They will face Folland Sports at the M.A. Hart Stadium next Saturday at 3 p.m.
New Milton Town: Ollie Bull, Elliott Pearce-Eavis, Cam Smith, Billy Maybury, Jack Kinge-Phillips, Toby Colmer, Jack Broad, Dan Bartlett, Callum McHale, Barney Stone and Harry McGrath
Substitutes Used: Ben Beard, Heath Thornton, Jack Foden, Ollie Mayo
Goals: McGrath 41, Bartlett 75, McHale 86, Stone 90
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