AS the Sydenhams Wessex League championship chase enters its final furlong, the jitters are certainly starting to set in among the title contenders.

Wobbling Winchester City were held 1-1 at home by Fareham Town on Good Friday afternoon after winning 3-0 at Cams Alders just ten days earlier, while second-placed Lymington & New Milton were held to their second draw inside four days.

After back-to-back 1-1 draws against Gosport Borough and Portland, third-placed Thatcham were mauled 4-1 at Moneyfields while their fourth-placed neighbours Newbury suffered a fourth straight defeat when they crashed 3-1 at AFC Totton.

Second-placed Lymington & New Milton missed the chance to narrow the gap on leaders Winchester to a single point when they were again held 2-2 at Wimborne following their goalless affair with lowly Alton in midweek.

"Once again the lads have worked really hard but the results just won't go for us at the moment," sighed Linnets' assistant manager Richie Phippard.

Gareth Barnes fired Wimborne into a 55th-minute lead before a clever backheel by Jimmy Anderson found Sam Carter who shot home an 82nd-minute equaliser.

Minutes later, Kev James's ball over the top of the Magpies' defence released Michael Jackson who slotted home only for Stuart Cannie to scramble in a late Wimborne point-saver.

"It was probably a fair result as there were only five shots on target during the whole game," smiled Wimborne boss Paul Arnold.

Thatcham Town are now 11 points adrift of the top two following their surprise 4-1 defeat at Moneyfields who, of course, nailed Newbury 4-2 in midweek. Two-goal Jason Bessey, Steve Black and Dan Horrell punished Town, whose sole reply came from an Ian Davies penalty.

But it's their Berkshire neighbours AFC Newbury who have really fallen off the rails since their FA Vase quarter-final exit at Bedlington Terriers just three weeks ago.

Since then, a 1-1 draw at Lymington & New Milton has been followed by successive defeats at the hands of Christchurch (2-0), Winchester City (1-0), Moneyfields (4-2) and now 3-1 reverse at Totton.

Pete Tagg got Newbury off to a great start by heading them into a 12th-minute lead but that evaporated before half-time as Marc Osman's 25-yard drive, and then Steve Whitcher's header put Totton ahead.

Totton, thrashed 6-0 by Lymington & New Milton seven days earlier, put the seal on a fine win midway through the second half when Steve Marwood fired a low shot past the visitors' keeper.

"We were second best again, I really don't know what's going on," sighed Newbury's Jim Goslin.

Gosport Borough will be re-assessing their championship hopes after they were the only top-six side to scoop maximum points with a narrow 3-2 victory at Bemerton Heath Harlequins.

Nathan Renyard gave Harlequins an interval lead before Ian Dyer levelled for Gosport on the hour mark and then David Goss headed them into a 2-1 lead.

Stu Findlay looked to have salvaged Bemerton a point when he popped in an 89th-minute equaliser but there was still enough time for Goss to head in a last-gasp winner.

Andover clamber back into the top six following their 5-1 napping of Christchurch at The Portway, a Phil Andrews brace plus solos by Justin Bennett, Bobby Swayne and Callum Earl sinking the Priory men, whose consolation came from Paul Rideout.

There were seven headed goals and a Mike Spinney hat-trick which went unrewarded as Bournemouth Poppies squeezed home 4-3 at VTFC.

Marc Diaper and 16-year-old Luke Chapman were deliverymen for Spinney's first two headers inside the opening 20 minutes before Poppies' debutant Ray Chengadu reduced the deficit near half-time.

Lamin Dibba nodded Poppies level after an hour and a far-post header by Lewis Till put them in front for barely a minute before Spinney completed his hat trick.

Minutes later, Poppies clinched their 4-3 victory when Alex Jones's corner kick was headed home by Adie Briscoe.

"It could very easily have been another 6-6 draw!" smiled Bournemouth boss Shaun Brooks.

It was a stroll in the sun for BAT as they battered Brockenhurst 4-0 at Grigg Lane and BAT boss Andy Leader reflected: "Without soundly disrespectful, it could have easily been double figures today."

Two Richie Gregory set-pieces saw Lloyd Jenvey score with two similar diving headers to put the Baccy boys 2-0 up at half time. Gregory notched a third on the hour from a Paul West delivery and Jamie Platt plundered their fourth after Matt Czaska's effort proved too hot to handle.

Two-goal Mike Douglas and Cav Ferris kept Downton anchored firmly to the foot of the table as Alton Town triumphed 3-0 at Anstey Road and Cowes sunk Hamworthy by the same scoreline on Friday evening courtesy of Elliott Day, Darren Powell and Matt Bowler.