TOMMY Donaldson revived New Milton Town’s survival hopes by firing a match-winning treble in the Wessex Premier basement battle.

The Milton hat-trick hero secured a potentially vital 3-1 away victory over fellow strugglers Romsey Town on Saturday.

Donaldson put Linnets in front before Simon De’ath missed a penalty, but Donaldson did double the advantage with his second just before half-time.

Michael Snelgrove got a goal back for the hosts but Donaldson had the final say when he completed his hat-trick in the last minute.

The result saw Milton climb off the bottom while also condemning Romsey to the foot of the table.

Football secretary Richie Phippard, who helped run the Linnets team on Saturday, told the Daily Echo: “It was a massive win for us.”

Linnets: Hannides, Proctor, Embree, Barge, Curtis, De’ath, Sampays (Blackburn, 70), Egerton (Booker, 80), Ngwa (Holloway, 60), Donaldson, Roberts. Unused sub: Thomson.

  • Stefan Penny struck twice to help depleted Hamworthy United secure an impressive 2-1 victory over Downton.

Hammers halted a run of three successive league defeats by defeating the title contenders at the County Ground.

Penny put Simon Browne’s men ahead via a deflected free-kick before Matthew Holmes restored parity for the visitors.

But former Bashley midfielder Penny headed a second-half winner.

“It was a good win against one of the better teams in the league,” said Hammers manager Browne.

Hammers: Knights, Head, Bradley, Horlock, Staines, Carlile, Penny, Sturgess, Pekun, Chudy (Wood, 80), Shovelton (Bassiriki, 70). Unused sub: Perry.

  • Goals from Scott Joyce and Elliot Ward earned Bournemouth Poppies a 2-2 draw at big guns Blackfield & Langley.

Kevin Gibbens fired the title favourites into an 18th-minute lead before Joyce and Ward turned the tide in Poppies’ favour.

However, the Victoria Park outfit were forced to settle for a point after Terry Cuthbertson had equalised on 63 minutes.

Poppies: Jones, Ayrton, Jackson, Ward, Batchelor, Lockyer, Watt (Turner, 90), Phillipson-Masters, Joyce, Clarke, Phillips (McRae, 11, Bautista, 71). Unused subs: Hales, Vaughan (g/k).

  • Two late first-half goals condemned Verwood Town to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of leaders Alresford Town at Potterne Park.

Potters: Lynch, Evans, Oldring, Kelly, Elysee, Gajic, Dyer, Webb, Saxby, Haskell, Satterley (O’Sullivan, 75). Unused subs: Conrad, Kimber.

  • Elliot Peck’s effort proved in vain as Ringwood Town suffered a 2-1 home defeat against 10-man Stockbridge in Wessex One.

Ringwood: Page, Osman, Roberts, Rolls, Pierson, Bellows, Elezi, Peck, Barwood, Heggan, Steer (Taylor 75).