NEIL Hards has too much respect for Gosport Borough to believe the Sydenhams Wessex League championship race is done and dusted.

Although it's easy to say that leaders Lymington & New Milton have only got to beat Gosport tomorrow to claim a fifth Division 1 title, Hards insists there's no 'only' about it.

"Gosport won't just roll over and say 'there's the points'. They're too good a side for that," he said.

Borough crashed 3-0 at Andover in midweek but are still third in the table and Hards pointed out: "They've only lost seven times all season and two of those have been against us, so there's only five other teams who have managed to beat them.

"If Lymington win, I'll take my hat off to them and say 'well done' because they'll have deserved it, but they couldn't have a tougher game."

Although Winchester must also win at home to Brockenhurst tomorrow to stand any hope of retaining the crown, Hards, left, insists the onus is on Lymington to get a result.

After disappointingly drawing 3-3 at home to Bemerton last Saturday, City are two points behind the New Forest side but, crucially, they have a superior goal difference, meaning a draw would not be enough for the Linnets should Winchester win.

"The pressure's all on Lymington now," Hards insisted.

"If Gosport score early or things don't go so well and Lymington don't get the goals they want, they'd have to push forward and leave gaps at the back.

"Nerves will a play a part too. They've got a lot of young players who haven't been involved in such an important game before. It's all psychological.

"I know we've got to win, but we're in a situation now where we can be a bit more relaxed. People think we've blown the league, so the pressure's off. It's up to Lymington to go out, perform and win."

Whatever the result, Hards, who steps down as manager tomorrow, is already on a high after City turned over Aldershot Town 2-1 on Wednesday to win the Hampshire Senior Cup.

Veteran midfielder/defender Gary Green returns from holiday and cup-tied duo Graeme Gee and Rob Chamberlain are back available.