AS LYMINGTON Town have come along way in such a short space of time, another 40 miles was hardly going to bother them.

Re-formed in the late 1990s, Town have enjoyed a meteoric rise through the pyramid, their journey continuing with promotion to Wessex One last season.

At times, the ride has been bumpy so having to fulfil their first two home fixtures away from their picturesque Sports Ground headquarters is small beer.

Although sharing venues with the town's cricket club has been a moot point, in previous seasons the problem has been overcome, with Lymington handed away games until the start of September.

Curiously, there has been no room for compromise this season with the club and its followers forced to travel to both Victoria Park on Saturday and Christchurch's Hurn Bridge tomorrow.

"It seems strange to start my notes for the new season by welcoming Bournemouth Poppies to their own ground," wrote chairman Brian Perrett, whose committee compiled the match-day programme, manned the turnstiles, met the officials' expenses and made the sandwiches.

Poppies' hospitality, however, did not extend to the home dugouts or changing rooms and although the hosts (Lymington) were afforded a one-goal lead, the visitors departed with the points.

James Baker's kamikaze backpass allowed Danny Veal to round goalkeeper Jason Harvell and roll the ball into an unguarded net for Lymington's 10th minute opener.

Sean Cummings then cleared off the line as Baker looked to atone at the other end before Poppies drew level in controversial fashion in the 20th minute.

Karim Benssaouda clearly palmed Scott Joyce's cross home with his right hand, although Dave Marden's cynical foul on the Algerian proved that two wrongs can sometimes make a right.

Had Marden not tried to fell Benssaouda then the striker would definitely have scored a legitimate goal and had referee Richard Taylor opted to penalise the defender then a red card and spot kick would certainly have followed.

As it was, Lymington paid dearly for losing their focus with colossus Lamin Dibba powering home a Gary Langrish corner with a thumping near-post header to complete the scoring in the 29th minute.

Joyce then hit the inside of the post with a curling left-foot effort and a Kevin James shot clipped the outside of the upright at the opposite end as both sides went close to adding to the scoreline.

And although a well-organised Lymington outfit shaded possession after the break and were full of endeavour, Harvell was rarely tested as Poppies maintained their 100-per-cent start.

Poppies boss Pete Moore said: "I was very disappointed with our display but to play as poorly as we did and still win has got to be a bonus. We gritted our teeth and battled it out so that was a plus because we're not that sort of team."

Lymington Town: Williamson, Stride (Powers, 82), Marden, Cummings, Rosier, Lorimer, Bailey, Jenkin (Egerton, 72), Veal, Sims, James. Unused subs: Young, Vine, Tate.

Poppies: Harvell, Robinson (Dancer, h-t), Briscoe, Baker, Dibba, Wyatt, Langrish (Merritt, 69), McCabe, Joyce, Benssaouda (Morrell, 82), Bailey-Pearce. Unused subs: Fletcher, Toy.