BOSS Adie Arnold had nothing but praise for his mix-and-match charges as Verwood’s threadbare squadron again required the assistance of an elder statesman on Saturday.

Depleted Potters saw their four-match unbeaten run ended by a 1-0 home reverse to Whitchurch United with Nic Turpin’s 15th-minute strike proving decisive.

Arnold was without the suspended Jack Lovell and injured Nathan Saxby before Brad Hill and Lee Chudy were forced to withdraw from the squad late in the day.

That resulted in 51-year-old coach Danny Saxby taking to the pitch for another 90 minutes of action while assistant manager Andy Darnton was utilised as a late substitute.

However, despite seeing his side suffer their first Wessex Premier League reverse for more than a month, Arnold was proud of how his decimated troops had taken to the task.

The Potterne Park manager told the Daily Echo: “We were down to the bare bones. We had two pull out at the last minute so we had to field Danny (Saxby) for 90 minutes again. It wasn’t ideal but I could not fault any of the lads.

“They put in a good shift and created a number of chances in the second half but we had no options to go and turn it round or find that bit of magic when we were on top.”

  • Graham Kemp felt both sides deserved their share of the spoils as Hamworthy United drew 0-0 with Fareham Town – but insisted the score did neither side justice.

“It was a good game with lots of chances at both ends,” said County Ground boss Kemp. “Both teams had reason to think they could have won it but the draw was a fair result.

“By half-time, it became quite obvious it was going to be nip and tuck but we have to be happy with another clean sheet against a side which looked a good bet for the top 10.”

Marcus Cullen bagged the only goal as Christchurch ended their six-match winless streak with a 1-0 win at bottom club Romsey Town.

  • In Wessex One, Sam Groves, Jack Hoey and Kabba Jack were on target as New Milton won 3-0 at Andover New Street, while a neck injury to Ringwood’s Ollie Wells forced the abandonment of their home clash with Hayling United.

Secretary Aubrey Hodder confirmed Wells’s condition was still being assessed as the Echo went to press.