NEW Milton surged back to the top of Division One but they were run extremely close by basement side Calmore Sports at Fernhill.

The Green and Golds could only manage 134 in their 50 overs and Calmore were dismissed just 13 runs short.

Asked if the fixture had provided his team with a scare, New Milton captain James Park admitted: “You can say that again!

“With Hook losing to Bournemouth, it could be a defining result for us come the end of the season. These are the sort of games you need to win if you are going to win league titles.”

New Milton were put in to bat first and appeared in control as Nick Park (22) and Mark House (23) guided the hosts to 45.

However, both openers and James Haggaty were caught in swift succession, which put New Milton on 54 for three.

James Park (15) and Ben Lawes added another 25 to the total before a similar situation struck again, the home side suddenly on 80 for six.

Lawes (30) had survived the Calmore onslaught and continued to hit runs as the tailenders supported him, with New Milton ending on 134 runs for their 50 overs.

For Calmore, Luke Johnson took three for 29. James Rose (2-18) and Mark Lavelle (2-32) also impressed.

The visitors were in major bother early in their reply at 12 for three, Dan Loader striking twice and George Watts once.

However, Calmore increased to 117 the total for the loss of just two further wickets.

But at that stage, a huge collapse saw the visitors put on just four runs for the final five wickets, the dismissal of opener Ben Johns (53) proving important in the equation.

Nick Gargaro took four for 25, Dan Loader three for 18 and Nick Elliott two for 17.

James Park said: “We were going along quite nicely at 45 for nought but then we lost three quick wickets.

“Me and Ben got us up to 79 but then we were 80 for six and we couldn’t seem to build any sort of sizeable partnership, which was a problem.

“We stayed up to 134 in the end but that number was lighter than it should have been.

“We started really well with the ball but Ben Johns batted well and they looked on course for victory at 117 for five. We changed the bowling round and eventually got Johns out and then finished it off quickly after that.

“The trouble with this league, as we’ve found out previously, is that anyone can beat anyone. That’s what happens in 50-over cricket.

“I can’t fault the effort of our lads but we need to improve in the batting department.”

New Milton will hope to continue their Division One title charge when they take on eighth-placed Hartley Wintney at Fernhill on Saturday.