SHARPSHOOTING Leigh Phillips is celebrating after being crowned the country's top scorer in last season's FA Vase.

Phillips, pictured right, received the prestigious accolade after netting 13 goals for Wessex League outfit Lymington & New Milton on their journey through to the fourth round.

The 29-year-old marksman - now with Dr Martens Eastern Division outfit Salisbury City - hit the headlines when he hammered a club-record six goals in Linnets' 11-1 second round qualifying demolition of Wick.

And the Boscombe-based building contract manager went on to find the back of the net in every round before the New Forest side bowed out to a dramatic injury-time winner against Mossley in January.

But it was Linnets' astounding second round win at team-of-the-moment Team Bath that really stands out in Phillips's mind.

At 2-0 down against a side who had just become the first student team in 122 years to reach the FA Cup first round, Linnets bounced back to force the tie into extra-time.

And with just seconds remaining of time added on, the ace marksman headed home Andy Jones' cross to the delight of a delirious Linnets camp.

Phillips said: "I am absolutely delighted to get the award because the FA Vase is an excellent competition. I feel very proud.

"To be honest it came as a bit of a surprise to find out I was still the top scorer. When I scored the six goals against Wick I thought I had half a chance of going on to be the top goal-scorer but when we got knocked out in January, I thought I'd get overtaken because there were obviously a lot of good players left in."

Paul Barber, the FA's director of marketing and communications, said: "We're delighted to make this award to Leigh.

"To finish the season as top scorer in the Vase is a fantastic achievement especially given that his run in the competition ended in January."

AFC Sudbury's Gary Bennett, the 2001/2 top scorer, finished behind Phillips on ten despite making it to the final.