WOODLEY United Ladies got 2019 off to a winning start and completed a South Region Premier Division double over New Milton Town with a 3-2 home success.

It was Town who started livelier and they took the lead in the second minute when following a throw in Tiffany Skinner was allowed to fire home from 25 yards.

The opening quarter-of-an-hour was end-to-end with the visitors having opportunities to extend their lead, while Rosie Page-Smith had chances to level.

An excellent Ellen Surtees tackle denied Caitlin Steele, while the visitors’ keeper Rebecca Ingram spilled the ball before gathering at the feet of Ruth Pearson.

United started to exert pressure with May Hamblin dangerous on the left wing and it was Hamblin who levelled on 23 minutes when she fired home from close range following Maddie Sawyer’s corner.

Ten minutes later United had the lead when Charlie Evans’ cross was converted by Page-Smith a yard from goal.

However, the lead was short lived when New Milton levelled in the 34th minute following United’s Holly Wilkins miskick evading Nicole Haines and scoring in her own net.

The second half started in explosive fashion with Town’s Olivia Watts having a chance in the first minute immediately followed by Jodie Penny seeing her effort cleared off the visitors’ goal line and Evans shooting wide.

The game then settled down with Woodley enjoying greater possession, but neither side troubling the goalkeepers.

The decisive goal came seven minutes from time when good work by Sawyer saw her cross from the goal line for Mollie Lambourne to steer the ball pass Ingram. Buoyed by the goal Lambourne and Evans both saw chances go wide in the final five minutes.

IN the Southern Region Premier Division, Barton Rovers suffered a 2-0 defeat at third-placed AFC Bournemouth.

Rovers battled hard in the first half and Rachel Allwright had a couple of good chances to fire Rovers in front, but she could not hit the target and it remained goalless at the break.

However, the visitors' hopes were dashed as only a minute into the second half Bournemouth took the lead, adding their second 20 minutes later.

In Division Two South of the Thames Valley Counties League, Barton Rovers Royals edged out Thatcham Town 2-1.

Royals' goal scorers were Jade Deneka-Littleboy and Leah North.

NEWBURY drew 0-0 at home to Ascot United in the Southern Region Premier Division, Ellie Reed their player-of-the-match.

Saide Gulliver and Marie Prout were the stand-out players for Newbury Development, but they lost 7-0 at Abingdon Town in Division Two South of the Thames Valley Counties League.