IN-FORM Bemerton Heath Harlequins have won four of their last five league matches after Matt Palmer’s dramatic winner shrugged off Lymington Town in a breathless 2-1 midweek win at Western Way.

Graham Mankin restored parity for the hosts after going behind, only to find the win through summer signing Palmer as Bemerton moved into 11th place.

An entertaining and committed battle capped the first half and Lymington’s physical presence was evident on numerous occasions, going in strongly on the hosts.

Their toughness paid off early on as forward Jack Odam ran clear and slotted home past Max Frampton in the Bemerton goal.

The hosts soon got back into the game and forced plenty of pressure on the visitors. And influential skipper Jack Slade, hitting some fine form this season, was awarded a penalty after being impeded in the penalty area.

Mankin stepped up for the leveller to get Bemerton back on level terms.

The game ebbed and flowed both ways and was an entertaining spectacle for the neutral.

As the end approached, a draw was appearing the likely outcome until Palmer popped up and stabbed home a late winner, seconds before the fulltime whistle was blown.

Manager Ian Chalk, who was absent from Bemerton’s 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth Poppies on Saturday, in which Slade and Neil Williams netted for the visitors, was delighted with the outcome.

“Obviously, the lads were disappointed on Saturday but were excellent on Tuesday night against the best side we’ve faced this season,” Chalk remarked.

“Lymington have pace, skill and strength in their side and we had to work extremely hard all night to combat that.

“We had all our players, excluding Scott Joyce (injured) and Seb Dawes (suspended), available and it showed.

“I was really pleased with home debutants Reece Rusher and Matt Chant, duly signed from Wincanton Town.”

Newcomers Rusher and Chant, however, are unavailable for facing Moneyfields in the second qualifying round of the FA Vase on Saturday (3pm).