CHAMPAGNE corks were popping at Southampton Road on Saturday evening after Lymington Town clinched their place in the top flight of Sydenhams Wessex League football next season with a 3-0 victory at Shaftesbury.

John Pyatt's men have looked certainties for promotion almost from the first day of the season yet the Lymington boss was nearly speechless.

"It's absolutely brilliant and I can't quite believe it, but what a way to do it - 100 league goals and another clean sheet," beamed Pyatt.

There was no looking back for Town after they took the lead inside 90 seconds. A deep cross by Kev James was only headed out as far as Charlie Balfe, who brought it under control before drilling it back past the keeper.

On 30 minutes, Phil Stone picked out Balfe, who smacked a right-footed shot into the bottom corner of the net, and the visitors made the game safe after the break when Balfe turned provider for Danny Veal to crash home their 100th league goal of a glorious campaign.

Pyatt will now turn his attention to securing the Division 2 championship and he knows that five more wins will do the trick.

Second-placed Poole Town still need eight more points to be mathematically certain of promotion after beating Alresford Town 2-0 at the Tatnum Ground, goals in the opening 25 minutes from Leigh Manning (penalty) and a Stuart Brown lob over the keeper doing the business.

Locks Heath are still waiting for any slip from the Dolphins and they consolidated third berth with a convincing 4-1 win over Stockbridge.

Dave Hepple gave 'Heath a tenth-minute lead after racing onto John Stevens through ball to lob the keeper and Pete Lines rounded off a neat six-man move to make it 2-0 after 18 minutes.

In the 32nd minute, Lines latched onto a loose back pass for a third and, ten minutes after the restart, another superb move ended with Chris Knight crashing in a 20-yard shot. The visitors' consolation came from a 75th-minute penalty.

Paul Baker put Horndean in front from the penalty spot after 20 minutes at Amesbury Town following a foul on James Searle. But the Wiltshire side snatched a last-gasp point when Wayne Kerr forced the ball home from a Neil Sole knock down following a deep cross by Steve Reeves.

Whitchurch United continue to climb up through the table after coming from behind to triumph 3-1 at Bishops Waltham Town.

A James Scrivens free kick brought the North Hampshire club back on terms before half time, Shaun Maye put them ahead after the interval and Alex Iddles iced the victory cake with a third in the final minute.

Fortunately, the Bishops' remain third from bottom as both their relegation rivals were beaten.

A debatable 55th-minute penalty by Gavin Keogh gave Petersfield a 1-0 verdict at Fawley, while Ian Cadnam put Aldermaston ahead at US Portsmouth who grabbed all three points with two late goals.