LIVERPOOL and Southampton legend Jimmy Case has feasted on his fair share of Premiership and Nationwide action lately, working for Saints club radio, Capital Gold and the PFA.

Yet the best game he has seen this season was a world away from the bright lights of the St Mary's Stadium.

It was down in the quiet backwaters of the New Forest watching another of his old clubs, Bashley, edge Saturday's third round thriller 2-1 against Bognor Regis Town in the FA Umbro Trophy.

"I've watched a lot of games, mainly involving Saints, Pompey and Brighton, but that's the best I've seen all season," admitted Case, an ex-manager and director of football of the Dr Martens Eastern Division outfit.

"I've watched Saints play Leeds and Liverpool recently, but Premiership games are so tense that they don't really open up until someone scores."

Nothing could have been further from the truth at the Recreation Ground where pumped-up Bashley frontman Keith Middleton took all of 30 seconds to unsettle shaky Rocks' goalkeeper Craig Stoner.

There was no respite for either side as the action came thick and fast in a pulsating cup tie which produced not one, but two twists in a breathtaking finale.

Trailing to a 41st-minute Stuart Hussey strike, brilliantly set up by Anthony Tilley's probing pass down the right, Bognor appeared to have forced a replay when pint-sized substitute Nicky Wyatt bagged an 88th-minute equaliser set up by fellow Havant old boy Miles Rutherford.

But the Rocks, still stinging from September's 3-0 FA Cup exit at Bashley, were again struck by the curse of the Foresters as Hussey hit a glorious winner four minutes into stoppage time.

The tenacious Tilley crossed from the left, 17-year-old Richard Gillespie miskicked and the ball ran to Hussey to sweep home the winner from beyond the far post.

The win netted Bashley another £1,000 in prize money ahead of today's fourth round draw - manna from heaven for a side who are fighting for survival at the foot of the Dr Martens Eastern Division.

Co-manager Pete Moore purred: "Our commitment and workrate was magnificent. We showed the sort of spirit we're going to need to get ourselves out of the mire in the league.

"This one result could give us a lot of belief in ourselves."

Gillespie was a late addition to the side after Bash discovered that Graeme Gee was not registered to play having returned to the club from Brockenhurst.

The teenager ran his socks off and Moore smiled: "I should think he'll sleep for a week now."

Middleton, a recent capture from Hamworthy United, was another who caught the co-manager's eye. "The more I see of him, the more I think he's going to be a big asset to us," said Moore. "I always thought he was capable of doing it at a higher level."

It was just like old times at Bashley. There was 305 gate, swelled by a vociferous Bognor contingent that delighted in goading Bash skipper and former Worthing midfielder Darren Robson.

Match sponsors were builders Pennyfarthing, owned by former Bash chairman Trevor Adams who was another welcome visitor to the Recreation Ground.

Neither Adams nor Case is back in an official capacity but Case said: "I may come down and train with them occasionally to keep myself fit."

Bashley: Rastall, Darnton, Culliford, Robson, Jones (Byrom, 75), Simpson, Tilley, Davis, Middleton, Hussey, Gillespie. Unused subs: Beck, Brewster, Quirke, Crowfoot.