FOOTBALLBrading Town 2, New Milton Town 1
ROMANS scored twice within a minute to consolidate their position and away from the threat of relegation in the Sydenhams Wessex League, Premier Division.
The sides were fairly evenly matched throughout at the Peter Henry Ground on Saturday, with New Milton looking threatening on the break, but Brading edged it in the end.
Both teams are in the bottom half of the table and are looking to claw their way back into middle of the division. For New Milton, who hover just above the relegation zone, their need to win made their play scrappy and desperate and often, tempers boiled over.
Brading's defence, bolstered by a calm performance by Aleks Przepoleski, withstood early pressure before supplying quick ball down the slope towards a hungry Brading attack.
On 20 minutes, Brading's speed showed, as Dan VALE shot down the left and then took on New Milton's goalkeeper from a tight angle, his shot trickling in off the right post.
Straight from the restart, it was 2-0, Simon ARMSTRONG breaking down the right hand side and shooting low to score.
New Milton's goal came early in the second half to give the Romans some jitters. For a lengthy period, the mainland side were on top, peppering the Brading goal with some decent chances, although Joe McCormack was more than up to the challenge.
However, New Milton's challenge ended as the game moved into injury time, as one of their substitutes was sent off for an elbow on Adam Sunsberg.
Another three points for the Romans sees them move to 17th, with a game in hand over the sides around them.
Brading Town: McCormack, Phelps, Przepolewski, Sunsberg, Fleming, Stuber, Miles, Rayner, Vale, Armstrong, Lewis. Subs: Ford, Henderson, Greening, Brougham.