ANDY Tipp has his fingers tightly crossed that T&E can escape relegation from the Sydenhams Premier Division – despite failing in their brave attempt to break out of the bottom two.

It was mission accomplished for the Millers on Saturday as they clawed back from behind to win their final game 2-1 at Horndean and pull themselves up to 20th at the expense of Christchurch.

Fareham Town’s 1-0 win at Andover blocked their path to third-to-bottom safety, but chairman/co-manager Tipp lives in hope that the side finishing second-to-bottom will be spared the drop, as has happened in some previous seasons.

“I’m a little bit gutted because I was hoping Andover could have got a draw against Fareham, but at least we didn’t end up bottom which gives us a fighting chance when they rearrange the leagues,” said Tipp.

“If you finish rock-bottom, you’re clutching at straws, but if you’re second-bottom, there’s always a chance.

“If not, we’ll just have to rebuild in Division One.”

Tipp missed the first half at Horndean while taking his son to St Mary’s for his eighth birthday. By the time he turned up T&E were trailing to a Colin Marsh goal.

“We were 1-0 down and playing awfully. Hopefully I brought them a bit of luck!” he smiled.

Chris Marwood headed an equaliser and ten minutes later earned his side a spot kick.

“Chris was taken out and he was still so crocked that he couldn’t take the penalty,” said Tipp.

“Steve Jenkin, who wasn’t having his best game, stood up to take it and I thought ‘oh no’. He’d already missed about four one-on-ones.

“I couldn’t watch but, luckily for us, Steve managed to slot it in.”

The Deans, playing their fourth game in seven days and with the Russell Cotes Cup final still to come at Blackfield & Langley tonight, had Nathan Kirby sent off in the second half.

“Horndean were up for it and, after the amount of games they’ve played lately, I was amazed they were,” Tipp admitted. “But we were stronger playing downhill second half and could have had three or four.”

Given that T&E took until mid-October to register their first point, finishing with 31 on the board has been a remarkable achievement.

Tipp revealed: “I had a nice email from Paul Proctor, the Fareham secretary, saying that while he was ecstatic they were safe, he was gutted for us. He said what we’ve achieved since Christmas is a miracle and, had it come off, it would have been the best ‘get out of jail’ card ever.

“I congratulated Fareham straight away. I get on really well with Matt (Parr, manager).

“It’s a shame any of us found ourselves in this position.

“Fareham, Christchurch and ourselves have all been top-ten clubs or higher. That old cliché that anyone can go down is true.”