RINGWOOD earned their first win since early November courtesy of goals from Joe Petty and Ryan Hamm, beating Totton & Eling 2-1 at Long Lane, reports Andy Jones.

Goals from Joe Petty and Ryan Hamm gave Ringwood a much needed three points, lifting them further away from the drop zone in the Wessex Division One.

Harrison Clarke was missing for Town which meant Josh Taylor, normally a striker, was drafted into the centre of midfield, giving Richard Morse’s side an attack minded look.

The home side also welcomed back Ryan Osmam to the club, after the defender had left in the summer to take a break from football, with the returning left-back coming straight into the side.

Speaking after the game, Town manager Morse stated: “I’m really pleased for all of us at the club and pleased for the result.

“All the team worked really hard all over the park, and it is good to see all the hard work over the last few weeks pay off like it did.”

Ringwood started the game brightly and carved out several early chances. Captain Ben Harris and top scorer Harry Smith tested Ollie Eyres in the Totton goal within the first 10 minutes, before Ryan Hamm had a one-on-one well saved by the Millers keeper.

It would be the home side who took the lead as their early pressure paid off.

A lurking Joe Petty on the edge of the box unleashed a well hit strike which found the bottom left-hand corner, putting the host 1-0 up after 25 minutes.

Shortly after the break, Town doubled their lead through Hamm. The Ringwood striker cut inside from the left, taking his shot from just inside the box.

Firing a shot just inside the box after cutting inside from the left, Hamm’s shot clipped the underside of the bar as it beat Eyres.

Hamm’s strike quelled Morse’s fears of his side rueing their missed chances, with the Ringwood boss continuing: “We started off brightly and tried to go for the jugular as we know when they go behind, they can struggle, so we really went for it.

“We had six good chances in the first 15 minutes and I started to think it might be one of those days again where we don't take our chances again.

“Joe’s goal settled us down as we needed to win the game and we defended well and looked good going forward.”

The Millers kept huffing and puffing as the game went on, manging to pull one back with six minutes to go.

Steel was able to find the corner of the net after being left unmarked in the box, but the goal would only serve as consolation with Ringwood holding firm to record their first win of 2022 and secure a vital three points.

Aggrieved by the failure to keep a clean sheet, Morse finished by saying: “I felt we managed the game well after taking the lead, but they did have a little spell late on and I was a little bit disappointed we conceded.”

Victory lifts Ringwood into 15th place, leapfrogging AFC Fawley, whilst Totton drop to 20th and now sit bottom of the Wessex Division One table after 12 consecutive defeats for the Hampshire club.