LYMINGTON Town boss John Pyatt hailed the motivational input of skipper Darren Ritchie following Saturday’s 4-1 Sydenhams Premier win at home to Alresford Town.

Ritchie was himself on the scoresheet, along with Carlo Tate, James Davis and Oakley Hanger, to keep ninth-placed Lymo on course for a top-six finish.

With ten games remaining they are just four points off fourth spot and Pyatt is confident that, with club stalwart Ritchie as their driving force, they will stay competitive to the very end.

“Darren’s been great these last couple of games,” said the boss.

“He’s scoring again and he’s there to rally the troops when things fall a bit flat.

“This is a difficult time of year when the weather’s cold and wet. Crowds are not massive and all we’re playing for now is to finish as high as we can.

“You’ve got to keep the team motivated and Darren’s doing that.”

Lymington’s 26th-minute opener was made in defence with Dave Marden nodding on a left-wing corner for fellow centre-back Tate to bury.

On 42 minutes, it was Tate’s turn to provide the aerial assist which set up ex-Mapgie Davis to smash the ball past John Howard. Ben Stanbrook halved the deficit for Alresford when left unmarked to head home Sam Carter’s corner.

But Lymington came again with full-back Hanger making it 3-1 following a driving run down the right.

Hanger then turned provider, delivering a low cross which eluded Alresford defender Adam Carrick – in for the suspended Jamie Bentley – before Ritchie slotted it home.

“We didn’t play particularly well in the first half even though we went in 2-0 up, but we showed some good character after Alresford had made it 2-1,” said Pyatt. “The ball looked to be going out for a goal kick but our ’keeper Nick Jones put his hand on it for some reason and they scored from the corner.

“But the lads upped the tempo and we went on and scored two more.

“Jordan Rose and Sam Roberts were both out but, regardless of who we bring in, they seem to do well. It was another brilliant team performance.

“Unfortunately we’ve lost Oakley Hanger for a couple of weeks, he’s done his ankle. And (defender) Luke Ansell is out for four to six weeks after injuring his knee last Sunday.”