STRAIGHT-talking Simon Browne inspired a Hamworthy United revival – by dishing out a half-time ear bashing.

Boss Browne told his men a few home truths as they trailed 1-0 at the interval against Wessex Premier rivals Totton & Eling.

The harsh words were justified when goals from Wimborne Town loanee Tom Hunt and Aaron Corby secured a 2-1 victory for the 10-man hosts – who had Sam Lockyer dismissed for two bookable offences prior to Corby’s winner.

Browne said: “We were, quite frankly, awful in the first half and were not at the races all over the pitch.

“There were a few choice words at half-time. I try not to throw the tea cups at half-time but, sometimes, it needs to be done. We were losing our discipline but we weren’t competing.

“But in the second half, we were considerably better. The guys rolled up their sleeves and we started to pass better and we looked more forceful going forward.”

Elsewhere, lowly New Milton Town suffered a 3-0 defeat at Hamble, who climbed into second position.

Hammers: Evans, Yelland, White, Haysom, Lockyer, Pidgley, Lanahan, Corby, Robinson, Cannie (Hunt, h-t), Burbidge. Unused subs: Head, Dominey, Murphy (g/k).

Linnets: Lester, Barge, Curtis, Stuart, Drew, Proctor, Holland (Colman, 89), Tanner, Chester (Davies, 70), Donaldson, Baldacchino. Unused sub: Harris.

• Resilient Verwood bounced back from the shock of conceding inside the opening nine seconds to earn a 3-3 draw at table-topping Brockenhurst.

Wessex League statisticians were left reaching for the record books when Mike Spinney fired Brock in front – with the opener timed at nine seconds by the hosts, while Verwood boss Adie Arnold thought it was even quicker.

Brock doubled their advantage shortly after but Jack Satterley, on his full debut, and Luke Homer restored parity by half-time.

Satterley then hit an equaliser to cancel out Brock’s third and keep the in-form Potters within two points of the Division One summit.

Meanwhile, depleted Ringwood claimed an impressive 2-2 home draw against high-flying East Cowes Victoria.

Wayne Newnham gave the visitors the lead before a Martin Edwards penalty levelled matters. East Cowes missed a spot kick of their own before Ringwood capitalised, Callum Wells scoring what looked to be the winner.

But Tom Scovell equalised with a deflected effort five minutes from time.

Potters: Lynch, Evans, Delaney, Kelly, Dear, Homer, Webb, Dyer, Gajic, Satterley, Haskell. Unused subs: Elysee, Barnett, Wilson, Rhodes.

Ringwood: Taylor, Marks, Osman, Leadbetter, Lavelle, Tyler, Labedzki (Manning, 73), Eley (Howes, 66), J Brown (Wells, 73), Edwards, W Hole.