VERWOOD Town and Downton's depleted sides played out a 1-1 draw at Potterne Park on Saturday.

Potters' manager Adie Arnold, 50, had to dust off his boots for a substitute appearance. Coach Danny Saxby, 51, played the whole 90 minutes, and assistant manager Andy Darnton was an unused substitute.

“The chairman calls it old, I call it experience,” said Arnold.

“We had nine players missing from the squad and were down to the bare bones. Danny Saxby did really well and didn't look out of place. He looked after the ball and was one of our better players. I'm 50 and played for the last 20 minutes. Hopefully it was a one-off.”

Verwood took an early lead though, Mike Haskell turning in from Matt Gilham’s knock back after five minutes.

Tom Plant was put through one-on-one ten minutes into the second half and finished well to equalise.

Former Andover player James Dennison and ex- Amesbury Town man Dean Wrixon made their Robins debuts off the bench. They have also signed Aaron Brindley, David Coker, Steven Holvey and Drew Parker. Callum Coker has returned to Petersfield Town.

Tom Callaghan made his Potters bow as a substitute, and they have also signed Laurence Bones, Alex Brooker, Sam Clayton and Raymond Stroud.

Bemerton Heath Harlequins won 3-1 at Romsey Town on Saturday, with a goal from Graham Mankin and two from substitute Kane O'Keefe. Jack Garner replied for the hosts.

Mankin and Joe Sanger scored for Heath in a 2-2 home draw against Sholing last Tuesday.

Former Downton player Neil Ford has signed for the club. Russell Jones scored twice and Lyndon Taylor got the other in a 3-2 home win over Moneyfields for the reserves on Saturday.

Verwood entertain Bemerton this Saturday, while Downton travel to the Isle of Wight to take on Newport.

  • Bemerton moved up to third in the table with a 5-1 thrashing of Christchurch on Tuesday, while Downton exited the League Cup with a 4-1 loss at holders Alresford Town.