Hythe and Dibden 1 Stockbridge 2.

Stockbridge gained three welcome points when they came back from Hythe and Dibden with 2-1 victory in the bag.

After a lean spell the Robins have started the new year in better shape being undefeated in their first three games. They were without influential defender Tristan Burton with a hamstring injury but Steve Witt made his first start for a couple of months but sadly a crunching tackle meant he may be out again for a period. This was never going to be a classic with a strong swirling wind coming off the sea making it difficult to play football. Stockbridge had the benefit of the slope in the first half and things looked good when two goals within a minute gave hope for a comfortable afternoon. The first came when a chip from the right by Dave Cotter was headed home by Jack Hutchings and Cotter was again the provider for the second when he threaded the ball through to Witt who made no mistake from close in.

The Robins’ joy was short-lived when two minutes later they conceded a soft goal on the break but they nearly went further ahead on 25 minutes but the home keeper did well to tip a Craig Blakeman free-kick over his bar. Jazz Beavis came on for Witt at the start of the second half and Stockbridge had an early scare when only an acrobatic save from Allan Ralph stopped the home side from levelling. Playing down the slope Hythe made several chances but poor finishing let them down. Hutchings broke clear but dragged a shot past the post before the last few minutes became a bit of a dog fight but with no further goals. Tomorrow Stockbridge are away to Team Solent.