NEIL Hards announced his intention to quit as Winchester City manager after leading the Sydenhams Wessex League champions to arguably the most extraordinary victory of his three-year reign.

Sinking AFC Sudbury in last year's FA Vase final will rightly go down in club history as Hards's most momentous moment in charge.

But, for pure drama, Saturday's nine-man 2 - 1 humbling of title rivals Lymington & New Milton will certainly take some beating.

Putting the brakes on a Linnets side who had motored to the top of the table fuelled by a 16-match unbeaten run was never going to be easy ... or so City thought!

Yet they achieved it despite playing the whole of the second half without midfielder Mark Smith - sent off elbowing his namesake, Chris, in first-half stoppage time - and then losing towering young defender Jamie Austen to a second bookable offence 15 minutes from time.

To City's enormous credit - or maybe Linnets' immense shame - it was Hards's defending champions who finished the stronger.

And they capped a fairytale afternoon with a sensational 88th-minute winner by 18-year-old substitute Ben Kneller, who gleefully snapped up the rebound from Liam Green's fierce shot less than two minutes after climbing off the subs' bench.

Not since the semi-final Vase win over Bideford has victory tasted sweeter at the City Ground, but win or lose on Saturday Hards's mind was already made up to leave at the end of the season.

He revealed: "I spoke to Martin Moody (director) before the game and said I'd be standing down because of the time and effort it takes to do the job. This season has taken its toll on me and I need a year or so away from football to recharge my batteries."

That effectively snuffs out widespread rumours that Hards is about to join Wessex rivals Gosport Borough who, it appears, have reverted to their original choice, John Robson.

Saturday's result edged City back to the top of the pile on goal difference with four games to go and still everything to play for.

But as far as Lymington's livid boss Ian Robinson is concerned, the title race is as good as over.

"It's finished," he seethed. "There's no hiding place. We've been beaten by a better quality side who showed more character than we did and who footballed around us with nine men.

"We've worked hard for 60 games to get ourselves into this position and we've just tossed it away."

Even a reminder that City's recent conquerors Hamworthy United are Winchester-bound tomorrow couldn't pacify Robinson, whose own side face an equally tough assignment at Thatcham.

"Winchester could go to Timbuktu and still win it," he said. "After that performance, they're not going to let it slip now."

Lymington will be shaking their heads wondering where it all went so dreadfully wrong.

They had got off to the perfect start when Darren Powell nodded home Ben Thomson's superbly-flighted free-kick after just three minutes.

But having cracked a left-foot shot against the post in retaliation, Winchester midfielder Lloyd Webber finally levelled on 42 minutes with a powerful header from Liam Green's free-kick.

If City were unsettled by Smith's dismissal they certainly didn't show it as they drove Lymington on to the back foot at the start of the second half.

They might have been outnumbered, but the physical presence of six-foot-plus titans Gary Green, Webber, Ian Mancey and substitute Graeme Gee seemed to dwarf Lymington at times as City piled hungrily forward.

The pendulum looked to be swinging back Lymington's way when Mark Clothier's header rattled the bar and then Austen was sent off for kicking the ball away.

But Hards has not taught his City team to sit behind the ball - even playing with nine men - and his 'who dares wins' philosophy paid rich dividends.

Six minutes after having one thunderbolt parried and Gee having his follow-up header well saved, roving midfielder Liam Green let fly with another fierce drive. Again the shot proved too strong for keeper Mark Watson to hold and young Kneller - making only his second substitute's appearance - nipped in to send a 483 crowd into rhapsody.

"I'm very proud of the way we performed today," smiled Hards. "To a man the players gave everything and they got what they deserved.

"But I wouldn't accept that we've already won the title and neither would the players.

"There's still all to fight for."