The stage is set for a thrilling local derby as New Milton Town welcome Lymington Town to the M.A. Hart Stadium this weekend.
Both sides are in fine form, and with bragging rights and crucial league points at stake, this promises to be a memorable clash for fans on both sides of the rivalry.
Matt Maybury said the following ahead of the fixture.
"The lads are absolutely bang up for this one. There’s something special about football at Christmas. We had a good result at Verwood in really challenging conditions. We’re 14 unbeaten now, but for us, it’s just a game at a time and seeing where we end up.
The commitment they’ve shown all season is second to none. We trained this morning to get the legs going again, and they’re raring to go for tomorrow.
We know the game's importance to the supporters, and the lads will do everything to get a result for them."
You can read more from Matt in tomorrow's Matchday Programme.
History Between The Two Clubs
In 1998, AFC Lymington of the Wessex League and New Milton Town from Division Two of the Hampshire League merged to form Lymington & New Milton Football Club.
The newly formed club chose Fawcetts Field in New Milton as their home ground.
In their inaugural season (1998–99), Lymington & New Milton clinched the Wessex League title, replicating AFC Lymington's success from the previous season.
However, they couldn't secure promotion due to ground grading issues.
The club achieved another Wessex League championship in the 2003–04 season, which earned them promotion to Division One of the Isthmian League. After one season, they were transferred to Division One South & West of the Southern League.
Despite finishing above the relegation zone in the 2006–07 season, the club resigned from the league due to the resignation of most officials. They then returned to the Wessex League Premier Division and were renamed New Milton Town.
Meanwhile, Lymington Town progressed through the Hampshire League divisions and were accepted into the Wessex League at the end of the 2003–04 season.
They quickly reached the Premier Division and won the League Cup in 2007.
League Form Guide - Wessex Div. 1
New Milton Town enter the contest on an incredible 14-game unbeaten streak in the league (WWDWWWWWDW). The team has shown consistency, resilience, and an ability to grind out results when needed. With such a formidable run of form, confidence will be high as they look to extend their streak and solidify their position in the standings.
Lymington Town, however, pose a serious threat. After a shaky start to the season, they have found their rhythm and are climbing the table rapidly, thanks to a string of strong results in recent months (LWWDLLWWWD). Their resurgence makes them dangerous opponents, capable of toppling even the most in-form teams.
Head to Head - New Milton vs Lymington
The rivalry between New Milton Town and Lymington Town has been a closely fought one over the years. In their last encounter, back in October 2018, Lymington narrowly edged out New Milton with a 1-0 victory in the Russell Cotes Cup.
Their last league meeting at New Milton’s ground was in April 2013, ending in a 1-1 draw. Earlier that season, New Milton celebrated a memorable 2-0 Boxing Day victory.
Overall, the head-to-head record is finely balanced, with both teams claiming five wins apiece and three games ending in draws.
This even history adds an extra layer of intrigue to an already enticing fixture.
Ground Details - The M.A. Hart Stadium
We hope to see many New Milton Town fans on Saturday. Please feel free to send your fan matchday photos to the club's social media accounts so we can share them.
This Saturday's programme is available for £1, and each purchase guarantees entry to win either a free burger or free beer at the bar. The winning programme number will be announced at half-time. This weekend's programme features 36 pages of content inside.
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