BOSS Tom Prodomo dedicated Bashley's first league win for more than 20 months to the club's long-suffering supporters and volunteers.

New-look Bash kicked off life back in the Sydenhams Wessex League in style with a battling 1-0 derby win over Hamworthy United on Tuesday, ending a 75-match winless run that was only punctuated by a victory in the FA Trophy last season.

Tyler Rutten, a summer signing from Verwood, struck a blistering long-range effort to hand Bash the lead 10 minutes before half-time but the new boy quickly went from hero to villain.

A two-footed lunge saw Rutten receive a straight red card on 65 minutes but the hosts, marshalled by man-of-the-match Brad Morris, held firm to secure a first league success since September 2014 when they won 2-0 at Taunton.

It was also their first home league win since February 2014 with the club having been relegated twice in the meantime.

Prodomo told the Daily Echo: "It was a great to start the season with three points and, of course, a clean sheet. Now our first win is secured we can quickly move on from all the attention surrounding the club's last league win and focus on the task at hand.

"The players deserved the result for the work they have put in throughout pre-season and the bravery they played with.The character they showed when we were reduced to 10 men was first class.

"It was great to see so many happy faces around the ground as it is the people in the stands who keep the club running day in day out by generously giving their time. That win was for them.

"It was a great start but it was only that. We must continue to work hard and not get carried away."

On Rutten's dismissal, he added: "I think a lot could be said about the build up to the incident and the challenge itself but referees have a very tough job and I was proud of how the boys responded.

"Hamworthy had started the half well and if anything, the decision galvanised us and simplified what we had to do."