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HIGH HOPES: Richie Phippard

RICHIE Phippard watched New Milton Town push neighbours Brockenhurst all the way on Saturday, then targeted a top-10 finish for improving Linnets next season.

Robbie Woolner's 38th-minute strike looked to have won the New Forest derby at Fawcetts Fields, only for late goals from Luke Ansell and Danny Gibbons to deny the hosts.

After a dreadful start to the Wessex Premier Division campaign, New Milton's fortunes finally turned mid-way through the season, leading to an upturn in results.

And under the tutelage of joint bosses Paul Masters and Andy Bye, Phippard, part of the club's management set-up, believes the future looks bright.

He said: "If we can keep the majority of the players we've got and bring in a few more, I don't see why we have to be fighting relegation as we have been this year. I think we could be looking at a top-10 finish next year."

Phippard, who moved upstairs with Trevor Parker when Masters and Bye came in, felt his side were unfortunate not to get at least a draw against Brock.

"I thought we were well worth a point if not all three," he told the Daily Echo. "I don't think they had a shot in the first half and it was a shame because we were good for a point. But that's what sometimes happens when you are fighting for points.

"Considering we hadn't played for three weeks, I thought the lads did really well.

"We did tire a little bit, but that's probably because we hadn't played for a while. That's possibly the only thing we were guilty of."

New Milton Town: Langdown, K Chengadu, Pidgley, R Chengadu, Grace, Coleman, Sampays, Ewen, Woolner (Allen), Burt, Kenna (Henwood). Unused subs: Walker, Booker, Malloy.

6:27pm Sunday 20th April 2008

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