WILL Tickle was Brockenhurst’s sharp-shooting saviour in a 2-2 home draw with Bournemouth Poppies in the Sydenhams Premier Division.

Twice the Foresters fell behind to goals from Charlie Gilbert, but Tickle pulled them back on terms with two stunning strikes.

On 54 minutes he darted down the left and cut inside before netting from an acute angle.

Poppies soon reclaimed the lead, but Tickle produced another stroke of genius on 70 minutes, unleashing a glorious 25-yard free-kick into the top corner.

He almost completed a hat-trick, but had another long-range strike tipped over by Jake Poynter on an afternoon when Brock hit the woodwork four times.

*Reigning champions Portland United succumbed to their second defeat in three games.

Alfie Lightfoot’s late first-half strike ensured Bemerton Heath Harlequins went back to Wiltshire with all three points in tow.

Reflecting on the 1-0 loss, Portland boss Simon Browne said: “We huffed and puffed but, unfortunately, we did not have enough to get back into the game after conceding.

“Frustrating, disappointing…all those words, but we go again and keep plugging away until we get it right.”