BEMERTON Heath Harlequins changed their formation to 4-3-3 after the midweek exit to New Milton Town in the Russell Cotes Cup semi-final and it proved decisive when the two sets met again in the league.

The hosts started at an electrifying pace with wide men Jack Slade and Joe Sanger receiving a lot of the ball.

But it was the visitors who broke the deadlock with their first attack on goal, when striker Matt Malloy found space on the edge of the area and struck a dipping shot above Darren Crowfoot after 25 minutes.

Bemerton's response was immediate after good work by Sanger down the right flank.

His shot was parried into the path of the oncoming Danny Sullivan who coolly chested the ball back into an empty net.

New Milton almost went in at the break in front when Callum Burt fired wide of the mark.

Next it was Heath's turn to attack and Slade's pin-point crossfield pass fell to Sanger whose shot just skimmed the post.

On the hour, New Milton made the only change of the game when Ashley Booker replaced Luke Walker.

He almost made an immediate impact when he raced through but was foiled by the in-form Crowfoot.

In the 70th minute a superb chance fell to Kane O'Keefe but he sliced his shot as it spun off to the right.

The 86th minute proved decisive after Slade had beaten his marker. All he had to do was square the ball back to the six-yard box where Marcus Oldbury slotted in with his right foot.

New Milton pushed forward and almost got their equaliser but Crowfoot saved magnificently again.

The custodian distributed the ball quickly into the path of Steve Hughes who played a sweet pass to Sullivan. He gave it to Sanger who fired in a scorcher from the edge of the area.

Bemerton are at home to league leaders AFC Totton on Saturday.

4:48pm Thursday 20th March 2008

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