NEIL HARDS remains convinced his Winchester City thoroughbreds will turn on the style in the FA Vase final at Birmingham on May 16 - even though their Wessex championship campaign ended in anti-climax.

From what Hards knows of Vase opponents AFC Sudbury, he reckons they are unlikely to stifle City's attacking flair in the way that Lymington & Milton did in Saturday's 2 - 1 defeat.

After all their classy possession football, Winchester were caught by a stoppage-time sucker punch from defender Darren Curtis as the Linnets gleaned sweet revenge for a late smash 'n' grab raid by Andy Forbes at Fawcett's Field in November.

Afterwards a frustrated Hards was critical of what he perceived as negative tactics by the New Forest visitors. He said: "They came and did the job and fair play to them for that, but I was bored out of my tree. I work all week and I come to football on Saturdays to enjoy it, not to bore the pants off people.

"After 20 minutes today everyone was yawning, but what can you do when teams come here, stick 11 players behind the ball and are happy just to boot it up the pitch.

"We were frustrated today, but that doesn't worry me for the Vase final because I think Sudbury will be a bit more ambitious.

"The shame of it is that Lymington have got some quality players. Sticking them all behind the ball is not my way of playing."

Lymington's veteran defender Jimmy Sheppard reckoned the 2-1 scoreline said it all.

"A side that passes doesn't always win games," he pointed out. "We're happy to let Winchester play in front of us all day and it's not our fault if they wanted to play all their football in their own half.

"But fair play to them. They've got so much talent in their team and I hope they go on and win the Vase. If nothing else it'll shut Pikey (Alex Pike) up! That's all we've heard since he won it with Wimborne."

Although Gosport Borough's 3-2 win at Thatcham Town thwarted Linnets' hopes of sneaking third place, chairman John Mills was delighted to finish fourth in Ian Robinson's debut season as manager.

He recalled: "Back on June 1, we had a blank sheet of paper with no players, no manager, nothing - and we're delighted with what Ian has done this year. He's as straight as a die. What you see is what you get with him."

Despite Saturday's uncomfortably high temperatures, Lymington worked tirelessly to contain the classy City slickers, who had picked up the championship trophy from Sydenhams Wessex League chairman Alf Peckham before kick-off.

Linnets' industry paid off in the 41st minute when they unexpectedly seized the lead. Winchester defender Dave Goss misjudged his header from Curtis's delivery from the right and, with keeper Simon Arthur badly exposed, Kevin Reacord cashed in with a shot off the far post.

Two minutes later Winchester were level. Forbes's blast was deemed to have been handled by Pete Smith and the remarkable Reading-based hotshot stepped up to bury his 75th goal of the season from the penalty spot.

But for some cool defending by Lymington's find of the season, Paul Towler, Forbes and his strike partner, Ian Mancey, might have bagged a goal apiece after the break.

Goss, Toby Redwood and Mancey also went close with headers for the champions as Lymington began to wilt in the heat of the afternoon.

That was until a late burst of energy by Trefor Smith put City on the back foot and he found Reacord, whose cross was converted by the gleeful Curtis at the far post. The 23-year-old match-winner from Regent's Park, Southampton, smiled: "This is the best group of lads I've ever played with and we felt as though we could get a result today.

"We wanted to ruin Winchester's day - and we did, but you could tell they're a class above and I wish them all the best in the Vase final. I also hope they get promoted because, with Winchester out of the league, it will be a more open race between three or four teams and it will be a better season."

Team boss Robinson felt the Linnets got their tactics spot on. He said: "We came here to play to our strengths, which were turning their three centre halves around and getting in behind them - and that's what we did.

"The table doesn't lie and Winchester are the best side in the league, but we never gave up hoping and showed an excellent attitude.

"I bow to Winchester's superior knowledge if they think we put 11 men behind the ball, but the way we played today reflected the fact that they'd run away with the league. We wouldn't have played like that against Whitchurch or Blackfield & Langley."

Winchester soon had the smiles returned to their faces at their presentation evening and race night. The main awards went to: Shaun Dyke (supporters' player), Gareth Bachelor (supporters' reserve team player), Andy Forbes (top scorer), Danny Smith (manager's player), Lloyd Webber (players' player).