Arnold: "It was a tremendous win"

Jack Lovell outpaced his marker to score the only goal of the game after 35 minutes, and it could have been more comfortable but John Webb’s penalty was saved by Stewart Kearn with 20 minutes to go.

It was the final game in charge for Winchester manager Graham Kemp, who left by mutual consent last Thursday but agreed to take the reins one last time.

“There are a lot of issues at Winchester but that shouldn’t detract from our performance,” said Arnold.

“It was a tremendous win. We changed our system to a 4-5-1, worked our socks off and tried to hit them on the counter attack. It worked to a tee and we matched them all over the park.

“I have never lost faith in the players and hopefully they will start to believe how good they are now.”

The Potters head to Cranborne in the Dorset Senior Cup on Saturday and Newport on Tuesday.

“If we approach it properly, Cranborne shouldn’t be a problem, and then there is the carrot of a potential tie against the likes of Dorchester Town or Poole Town,” Arnold added.

RINGWOOD Town made it back-to-back wins in an eventful game against Stockbridge that produced three red cards.

Matt Steer’s fourth-minute free kick took a bounce that beat the goalkeeper, and Chris Bailey supplied a good finish from the edge of the box four minutes later, on his first appearance of the season. Matt Nabney’s own goal halved the advantage after 32 minutes, before Tony Bellott made sure the two goal lead was restored before the break.

Stockbridge’s Liam Hall was dismissed for a professional foul on Brewers’ substitute Elliot Peck in the 53rd minute.

However Bellott blazed the resulting penalty over – his second miss from the spot in two games, leading his manager Pete Alvis to declare: “He won’t be taking any more!”

Ben Thompson pulled a goal back after 66 minutes, but Stockbridge’s task was made harder seven minutes later when Daryll Phillips picked up a second yellowcard, for foul and abusive language towards officials, and they were down to nine men.

Ringwood made it 4-2 through a header by Alex Roberts late on, but there was still time for more drama as Nabney was dismissed for an altercation.

“Matt is 18 and will learn about discipline,” said Alvis.

“It was a very good performance.

Now we go to East Cowes Victoria on Saturday, trying to right the wrong of our 5-3 defeat after we had been ahead.”

AMESBURY Town’s recent revival was stopped in its tracks by unbeaten Petersfield Town at Bonnymead Park on Saturday.

Craig Wheeler put the Blues in front but they succumbed to goals from William Essai (two), Joseph Richardson and two from substitute Robert Tambling, losing 5-1.

Laverstock & Ford were also heavily beaten, 4-0 at Cowes Sports.

Jordan Browne got the scoring under way after ten minutes and Joe Phelps made it two from the edge of the box five minutes later.

Jared Wetherick’s free kick slipped past goalkeeper Steve Butler just two minutes after the restart, and there was further calamity when a mix-up between Butler and Will Knight allowed Browne a tap-in for his second on the hour.

Lavvy are at home to winless Hayling United on Saturday, while Amesbury travel to Tadley Calleva..