LYMINGTON & New Milton have voted overwhelmingly against a merger with New Forest neighbours Bashley, writes Karenza Morton.

After it was confirmed last week that the chairmen of both clubs had already met informally and discussed possibly resurrecting merger negotiations, Linnets decided unanimously not to re-enter amalgamation talks by a majority of 14-0 at an executive committee meeting on Monday.

Linnets chairman Charlie Hewlett confirmed: "Merging with Bashley is not something I'll pursue again. Our committee made it pretty clear that it's not something they want and, if anything, the meeting actually galvanised our club."

ANDOVER manager Howard Goddard is in two minds whether to leave the Lions to their own devices at Fareham Town tomorrow, writes Wendy Gee.

Ideally he would like to be at the Camrose Ground running the rule over Tuesday's Hampshire Senior Cup opponents Basingstoke Town, who host Hitchin in the Ryman Premier.

But his desire to go into that

quarter-final tie as genned up as possible is offset by a reluctance to miss a second Andover game this season.

"The last time I did it I was in bed with flu and we got turned over 3-1 at Thatcham," he recalled.

"Ray Cozzi (assistant boss) can take charge if I do go to Basingstoke, but I'm a bit dubious about not being at Fareham.

"It's a big match for us tomorrow. A lot of the teams above us have played more games than we have and if we pull our socks up we can get ourselves into the top six."

Lions skipper Glen Damen will definitely miss out as he completes a seven-day suspension.

League leaders Eastleigh

welcome Saints trialists Robbie Matthews, pictured, and Lee Bright back into the fold for the trip to Downton.

The pair played for Saints reserves in their midweek 4-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest.