THE latest bout in the clash of the two local Wessex League titans Lymington & New Milton and Wimborne Town went to the Magpies in a thrilling 2-1 FA Vase second round victory at Fawcett's Field.

Alex Pike's side came from a goal behind to snatch a late winner in a match that they thoroughly deserved to win.

The 1992 FA Vase winners and their hosts have long been two of the top Wessex League sides expected to go a fair distance in this national competition, with the Linnets reaching the last eight in 1999.

And despite a stuttering opening 10 minutes the match soon took on its usual fluent footballing standards with the first golden opportunity in front of goal falling to the home side.

Skipper Paul Morris delivered a tremendous 40-yard cross into the six-yard box, and Ross Drew found himself unmarked as he squandered his free header wide of the target.

Graham Kemp's outfit took the lead though in the 17th minute, when Matt Town crossed to the far post for Richard Glenister to head back into the danger zone.

Jamie Frank in the Wimborne goal could only manage to palm the ball into the path of Mark Smith who duly rammed his shot past Frank for 1-0.

Town was only to play another 11 minutes of the match as he fell awkwardly after a challenge with Wimborne's Tony White and was taken to hospital with his legs heavily strapped.

The two sides have always had a reputation for fluent and entertaining football but, with the added incentive for this particular meeting of a place in the third round of the FA Vase, it was a match which was played on a knife's edge throughout.

And with five minutes to go before the break the game threatened to turn nasty.

Stewart Kearn in the Linnets goal produced a reckless challenge on Stuart Cannie which Cannie took immediate exception to and retaliated with a posse of Wimborne and Lymington players diving in to have their say as well.

Jason Lovell needlessly got himself involved and was very fortunate not to escape a booking for his contribution.

Kearn was also unbelievably ignored totally by the referee as he recorded Cannie's name and the Linnets' Paul Gazzard into his notebook.

Brett Phillips was then booked for a foul on Stuart Cannie as the match threatened more unsavoury incidents.

Fortunately the players calmed themselves down and the Magpies should have equalised deep into first half stoppage time.

Jamie Moore produced a dazzling run down the right flank before cutting the ball back across the goalmouth for Stuart Cannie to volley wide from 10 yards with an open goal gaping.

It was the first real clear cut opportunity for Pike's side to get on the scoresheet, but the second period proved a much different proposition as the Magpies began to dominate possession.

Kevin Gill's lightning pace down the left wing and Moore on the right were more than a handful for a Linnets defence who had been rock solid in the opening half.

Gill, Andy Barham and Stuart Cannie all came close to equalising before Lovell thought he had with a far post header which ended in the back of the Linnets' net only for the referee to blow for a foul on Kearn.

Moments later Gill delivered a cross which eluded everyone and hit Lymington's post and out to safety.

Moore then produced another scintillating run into the 18-yard box before rifling a powerful effort on goal for goalkeeper Kearn to parry.

Gill was the quickest to react as he smashed home the rebound for an equaliser that was so richly deserved.

With just seven minutes left in this captivating contest Mark Dancer cleverly back-heeled a throw-in to Barham who raced to the by-line before crossing for Lovell who planted the ball into the back of the net via his right thigh.

Lymington & New Milton: Kearn, Gazzard, Bailey-Pearce (Grace 64), Kemp, Morris, Phillips, Keeping, Smith (Marwood 86), Glenister, Town (Metcalfe 31), Drew. Unused sub: Stride.

Wimborne Town: Frank, Plank, White, Powell, Moore, Scott Cannie, Stuart Cannie, Barham, Dancer, Lovell, Gill. Unused subs: Mitchell, Elliott, Lewis, Manning, Vucavic.