CO-MANAGER Stuart Hussey hailed Ben Thomson after he inspired Lymington Town to a 5-0 win over local rivals New Milton.

The influential central midfielder set up Lymington’s first, when defender Luke Ansell headed home his eighth minute corner.

Charlie Anderson fired an effort into the top corner from 25 yards to make it 2-0 before Thomson tapped in Lymington’s third.

Thomson then forced the fourth in the 37th minute, wriggling out of a tight spot near the corner flag with a brilliant bit of skill before firing in a cross which was turned into his own net by a New Milton player.

Lymington had to wait until the 85th minute to get the fifth, scored by Jake Long.

Hussey said: “Special praise for Ben Thomson.

“He scored one, forced one in the own goal and set up one from a corner.

“He was outstanding in the first half.

“A lot of the good things that we do revolve around him.”

BRILLIANT Brading Town kept their 100 per cent start to the season going at the expense of Romsey Town.

A first-half strike from GC Giancovich secured a 1-0 home win for the Romans, who have won all eight Sydenhams Premier games this season and are one of only two sides unbeaten in the league.

Romsey came close to snatching a point at the death but Simon De’Ath and Wayne O’Dell both saw their efforts hacked off the line in the middle of a goal-mouth scramble.

Town boss Wayne Mew, who fielded two new faces, goalkeeper Freddie Toomer and right-back Lewis Robinson, both signed on dual registration terms from Eastleigh, said: “It’s no disgrace (losing to Brading) but we deserved at least a point out of the game.”

Romsey travel to Moneyfields tonight.

For more non-league, don’t miss today’s Daily Echo.