SINNING striker Phil Stone was both hero and villain as Lymington TOWN stormed back to the head of Division 2 with an important 2-0 home success against third-placed challengers POOLE TOWN.
Victory was doubly sweet for John Pyatt's men as their New Forest neighbours Ringwood Town did them a huge favour by thrashing championship rivals Locks Heath 4-0 at Long Lane.
Lymington took the lead after 20 minutes with a route-one style strike. Keeper Stuart Williamson clubbed a drop kick upfield and it took one big bounce before finding Stone, who coolly lobbed the keeper.
But the home side were then reduced to ten men when Stone was sent off for allegedly kicking out at an opponent in an off-the-ball incident, but Danny Veal latched on to John Bailey's through ball to seal matters on 85 minutes.
Lymington manager John Pyatt said: "The ten men worked really hard for the points and I have to mention Danny Veal, who operated as a lone striker and gave a masterful display."
Just down the road, RINGWOOD inflicted the first defeat upon LOCKS HEATH since they were beaten 3-1 at Liss on the opening day of the season.
Steve Geary's slotted through ball gave Andy Wright the chance to open the scoring for Ringwood after 20 minutes and they doubled their lead eight minutes later when Nick Busson headed home a Carl Fleet cross.
Fleet returned the compliment for Busson to head Ringwood's third after 75 minutes, with Busson squaring the ball for Geary to complete the scoring late on.
"Everything clicked into place for us today and, believe me, that 4-0 scoreline flatters them," smiled Ringwood manager Bob Lane.
SHAFTESBURY'S 4-2 home success against HYTHE & DIBDEN moves the Dorset club level on points with their third-placed neighbours Poole Town, while PETERSFIELD'S 4-1 victory over WHITCHURCH UNITED keeps them in the hunt.
Lee Blakeley fired Petersfield into a ninth-minute lead and Adam Fawcett netted a second right on half-time after the Whitchurch keeper had blasted his attempted clearance into the back of Fawcett's teammate Gavin Keogh.
On 63 minutes Ian Heather chipped the keeper from ten yards for number three before stepping up to blast home a stunning 35-yard free-kick into the top corner for his second and Town's fourth after 75 minutes. Whitchurch grabbed a consolation five minutes from time.
Sharp-shooting STOCKBRIDGE are separated from Petersfield by goal difference only following their 5-0 romp at EAST COWES VICS.
Gavin Flye and Mark Vowles both bagged braces for the visitors with Pete Swinney completing their nap hand. An excellent day for Stockbridge was rounded off when keeper Alan Ralph saved a late penalty.
Visitors HORNDEAN took a ninth-minute lead through Tommy Woodward at BLACKFIELD & LANGLEY, who rallied after the break to earn a 2-1 victory. Danny Mockeridge charged down the keeper's attempted clearance after 74 minutes and Neil Williams headed in a pin-point Ben Homer delivery six minutes later.
ROMSEY TOWN returned to winning ways despite having midfielder Nick Kemp sent off in their battling 1-0 win over BRADING at the By-Pass Ground - centre-half Andy Foster netting the all-important goal after 40 minutes.
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