MANAGER Michael Cuffie declared himself content with a point after Dan Saul’s second-half strike helped Christchurch to a 1-1 draw with fellow strugglers Downton.

The result kept Priory eight points clear of the Wessex Premier relegation zone with Cuffie pleased to maintain a healthy cushion.

“As much as I wanted to win, I was quite happy with the point after we had conceded against the run of play right on half-time,” said Cuffie.

“We suffered from another individual mistake but at least we had the gumption to get back into it. The only thing that frustrated me was that we created chances to win the game but never really went for the throat.

“It was important not to lose. The result keeps those teams at the bottom from making up ground and it’s not all doom and gloom.

“We probably only need a couple more wins to make sure we stay away from any relegation trouble, which I am confident we will get.”

Cuffie hopes to sign Brockenhurst winger Lee Clark in time for tomorrow’s home league match with Newport (IOW) (7.45pm) while Hamworthy defender Tom Biles remains on Priory’s radar.

Priory: Field, Doe, Sullivan, Donachy, Baker, Hiscock (Carter, 55), Smith, Burden, Barnes, Saul, Hanratty (Cullen, 60). Unused subs: Head, Taylor.

  • A goal from Leighton Speechley-Price proved scant consolation as Verwood Town failed to salvage a point against Newport (IOW).

Strikes from Thomas Scovell and Tom McInnes put Potters on the back foot as Port plundered the points with a 2-1 success.

Verwood boss Adie Arnold said: “For the first hour, we didn’t really play and that was the biggest disappointment.

"After that, we got the ball down, played some really good stuff and got back into the game.

“At 2-1, we missed two absolute sitters and deserved a point, but you can’t turn up for the last half an hour against a side like Newport an expect anything from the game.”

Potters: Lynch, Evans (B Satterley, 75), Molyneaux, Oldring, Kelly, Foster (Murray, 60), Gajic, Dancer (L Speechley-Price, 40), Lovell, N Saxby, Dyer. Unused subs: Rutten, M Speechley-Price.

  • Bournemouth Poppies slipped to a 2-1 defeat at home to table-topping Alresford Town, despite Scott Costello’s first-half opener.

Poppies: Vaughan, Ayrton, Jackson, Pekun, Burgis (Bassiriki, h-t), Jacobs, Owens, Ward, Ingram, Costello, Phillips (Hales, 71). Unused subs: Pearce, Robinson.