NEW Milton boss Connor Natella saw his side succumb to a heavy Hampshire Senior Cup defeat and admitted the final whistle had not come soon enough.

Linnets were thumped 5-0 at higher-division Andover Town with efforts from Liam Gilbert and Ollie Yates putting the hosts ahead early on.

A superb strike from Gilbert increased the advantage and substitute Lewis Benson and Sam Pekun put the polish on victory in the final quarter of an hour.

Natella, who is still searching for his first win as Linnets boss, admitted he would be pleased to return to Sydenhams Wessex One action.

He told the Daily Echo: “I’m glad it’s over. I wasn’t massively looking forward to it, to be honest.

"We were playing a team with a bit of a budget in the league above and all we wanted to do was keep our group intact because Totton & Eling on Saturday is the real thing for us.

“We feel that the time to start winning is coming to us now. We’ve done a lot of talking over the past few weeks and now we have to put some points on the board.”

Linnets: Rees, White, Barber, Lambert, Omamogdo, Drew (Curtis-Hicks, h-t), Barnett (Osorio, 60), Harris, Banfield (Leonard, h-t), Kitson, Woolner.

  • Christchurch manager Adie Arnold declared himself content with his team’s display despite a 3-2 Hampshire Senior Cup defeat at Blackfield & Langley.

Dan Munday put the home side in front in the first-round tie, only for ex-Cherries star Christer Warren to level matters.

However, second-half efforts from Jesse Gould and substitute Sam Lanahan put Blackfield in control, before Nathan Saxby pulled a goal back from the spot.

Arnold told the Daily Echo: “It was always going to be a tough game. They are a very good side and had a lot of possession but we gave a good account of ourselves and I was pleased with the performance.

“While it’s nice to have a cup run, the most important thing for us this season is the league.”

Elliot Richards put the Badgers in front and after Sami Makhloufi equalised from close range, a Jamie Betteridge effort just before half-time restored the visitors’ lead.

Kabba Jack added a third for Brockenhurst following the resumption but a Rob Teppett free-kick brought Poppies to within one of their opponents.

However, a late brace from skipper Mark Barker either side of a goal from substitute Jack Burrows handed the away side victory.

  • Matt Groves is still searching for the first win of his temporary spell as Verwood caretaker boss following the 5-0 defeat at Salisbury.

Ashley Jarvis, Sam Wilson and Tom Whelan handed the Whites the initiative in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier clash.

An own goal after the interval increased Verwood’s misery and Kane O’Keefe rounded off the scoring with 18 minutes left.

  • Lymington edged a 3-2 thriller at Moneyfields despite having keeper Rob Vine sent off.

A Jack Odam double and a Ben Sullivan effort secured Lymo three points.