BOSS Adie Arnold admitted to mixed emotions after Christchurch had salvaged a point at home to Fawley in the Sydenhams Premier.

The visitors took the lead in the early stages when a free- kick was not dealt with and the ball was diverted home from close range.

However, 10 minutes from time, substitute Matt Vining grabbed a point for the hosts when he converted after Mark Smith’s free-kick had thumped against the post.

Christchurch remained second bottom of the table following the 1-1 stalemate but Arnold’s men have reduced the gap on 19th-placed Fareham to a single point.

Arnold was pleased to avoid defeat but admitted there were both positive and negative elements of the display to reflect on.

He told the Daily Echo: “We had to get something out of the game and I’m glad that we did.

“The disappointing thing is that we’ve had good performances away at top sides recently but we don’t seem to be able to put those performances on at home.

“The first half was very poor. Individuals did not do their job from a set-piece and we went in at half-time 1-0 down.

“At one stage, we didn’t look like we were going to get anything out of the game but I have to give the lads credit, they rolled up their sleeves and showed they had something about them.

“In the second half, we went for it more and, if we had scored 10 minutes earlier, we probably would have gone on to win the game.”

Priory: Murphy, Reeves (Vining, h- t), Thoroughgood, Swindlehurst, Hill, Clark (Goodship, 75), Smith, Saxby, Harris, Lovell, Cunniffe- Pilley (Proudley, h-t). Unused subs: Haysom, Fawcett.

  • Jake Bockhart and James Davis were on target as Lymington Town secured a 2-0 victory over Bemerton Heath Harlequins, while Hamworthy United were beaten 3-0 at home by AFC Portchester.

In Division One, New Milton Town took the derby honours with a 3-2 success over Ringwood Town at Fawcett’s Field.

Sean Leadbetter bagged a brace for the visitors but Sam Bayston, Kabba Jack and Morgan Turner netted to take the spoils for the Linnets.