NEIL Hards does not regard the Sydenhams Wessex League championship as a two-horse race.

Although many are billing the April 9 heavyweight showdown between leaders Winchester City and second-placed Lymington & New Milton as the title decider, City boss Hards insists it's just another game.

Winchester are three points clear of the Linnets heading into today's (3pm) home match against Fareham Town, with third-placed Thatcham a further ten points behind.

But, with eight games remaining, Hards believes it would be foolish to assume there are only two clubs in contention - particularly in the light of Lymington's disappointing 0-0 draw at Alton on Tuesday.

He said: "People think the Lymington game's going to be the decider, but I don't see it like that.

"We've got three games to play between now and then and, if we don't win them, the Lymington game will be irrelevant because we won't be in the championship race.

"One game doesn't make a season and it would be disrespectful to the other clubs to think we're going to win the rest of our games and that all that matters is beating Lymington. We've got 24 points left to play for and only three of those are against Lymington.

"We've ridden our luck in some of our games, we know that, and I still think both ourselves and Lymington will drop points. You've only got to look at their result on Tuesday to see that.

"We've got some tough games left, like Andover and Hamworthy home and away, while Lymington have still got Wimborne, Thatcham and Gosport.

"We'd only have to lose a couple of games on the trot and that would bring Thatcham, Newbury and Gosport back into the picture.

"I'm a great believer that, until you can't be caught mathematically, it's foolish to write other sides off. I never look any further than the next game."

After their recent upheavals, last Saturday's trip to Newbury was a true test of Winchester's championship mettle - and they passed with flying colours in a 1-0 win.

Goalkeeper Alan Walker-Harris was the hero of the hour, along with the sturdy defensive trio of Jamie Austen, Gary Green and Mark Jones.

Hards acknowledged: "The three lads were fantastic, backed up by an excellent goalkeeper who has been on top form. Alan does the basics really well. He catches crosses and his distribution is first class."

City hope to have Ian Buckman and Matt Bicknell back from injury today, but Adam Rogers and Liam Green are still struggling and Ian Mancey is suspended. Graeme Gee and Robbie Chamberlain return after being cup-tied for Tuesday's Hampshire Senior Cup semi-final success.