FORMER England under-21 international Paul Hardyman made his New Milton Town debut but then saw red almost immediately.

The ex-Pompey defender, who played in the 1992 FA Cup final for Sunderland, is the new manager at Fawcett’s Field. Due to the club’s player shortage, he came off the bench late on in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Brading Town.

But his return to competitive football after almost a decade of retirement did not go to plan as he received his marching orders in the closing stages on the Isle of Wight.

It completed a miserable afternoon for the Wessex League strugglers, who slipped even further into the Premier Division relegation mire, despite a goal from substitute John Roberts.

New Milton Town: Webb, Winzar, Colman, Lever, Pidgley, Booker, Avery (Hardyman, 82), Quirk, Petty (Roberts, 52), Light, Allen.

• Graham Kemp admitted his disappointment after his Christchurch side missed a golden opportunity to upset high-fliers Bemerton Heath Harlequins.

Kemp’s men led 2-1 at Hurn Bridge through Tom Jeffes and Ben Osborne but, after two quick goals from the visitors, Priory had to settle for a 3-3 draw when Jeffes struck his second late on.

Christchurch: Kearn, Costello, Legg, Dand, Linpow, Bernard, Smith, Fairbrother, Osborne (Dickenson, 80), Jeffes, Burden. Unused subs: Rideout, Green, Harris, Jeffries.

• Player-boss Simon Browne praised Max Frampton and Luke Burbidge after Hamworthy United recorded a 3-0 win at Lymington Town.

Frampton kept his first clean sheet since joining Hammers and ex-Cherries apprentice Burbidge struck his maiden goal in the win.

Browne’s men also scored through Jack Swann and Stuart Cannie.

Hamworthy United: Frampton, Antrobus (Merritt, 65), Llewelyn, Horlock, R Jackson, Burbidge, Barron, Crow, Toghill (M Jackson, 70), Cannie, Swann (Facer, 80). Unused subs: Dancer, Browne.

• Goals in each half from James Bates and Andy Culliford kept alive Bournemouth Poppies’ hopes of a top-three finish. The pair struck to seal a 2-0 win at Moneyfields.

Poppies: Harvell, Arnold, Cole, Byrne (Roberts), Crutcher, Webb, Phillipson-Masters, Blake, Saadi, Culliford, Bates (Kittle). Unused subs: Sanderson, D Wilson, Vaughan.

• In Division One, Paul Burnett’s second-half brace handed Ringwood Town a 2-0 home win over Shaftesbury.

Verwood Town’s promotion hopes, however, suffered a setback as they slumped to a 3-1 defeat at Petersfield Town. Substitute Matt Newbery netted a consolation goal for Adie Arnold’s side in stoppage time.

Ringwood Town: T Taylor, Burrett, Clarke, Hetherington, Burge, T Yeats, Ormond, S Yeats (Sexton, 65), Fleet (Chattey, 70), Burnett, D Taylor (Greaves, 60). Unused subs: Purkiss, Page.

Verwood Town: Rockingham, Evans (Matt Newbery, 80), Martin Newbery, Jamison, Murray, Dyer, Arnold (Mills, 80), Kelly (Anderton, 60), Elysee, Baguley, Homer.