REIGNING champions Winchester City bounced back to the head of the Division 1 table with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Portland United.

And, with former leaders Lymington & New Milton and third-placed Newbury plus fifth-placed Gosport Borough and fourth-placed Thatcham Town all drawing 1-1, it was a perfect day all round for Neil Hards' men.

Liam Green's quickly taken free kick saw Mark Jones score with a deft near-post header to put City in front after 14 minutes. And they doubled their tally on 35 minutes through Mark Smith after a 25-yard drive by Paul Burnett had burned the fingers of the Portland keeper.

A left-footed 18-yard shot beyond the despairing dive of the keeper saw Jamie Laidlaw make it 3-0 on 64 minutes and Laidlaw hoisted his season's goal tally up to 40 after 82 minutes when he converted Graeme Gee's cross.

Portland were awarded a penalty five minutes from time after Gary Green had pulled back Carl Mutch but keeper Alan Walker-Harris saved Nathan Walker's spot kick.

Lymington & New Milton's reign at the summit lasted just three days following their 1-1 draw with AFC Newbury at Fawcetts Field.

Linnets' boss Ian Robinson sighed: "I'm very disappointed because the enthusiasm and desire just wasn't there. I don't know why but the spark is missing at the moment."

Yet Lymington made the ideal start after five minutes. Peter Smith won the ball and found Michael Jackson, who squared it across goal for Darren Powell to crash into the roof of the net.

Newbury forced their way back into the game and were rewarded with an equaliser just before the end when Lee Chudy powered the ball home.

High-riding Gosport Borough and Thatcham also cancelled each other out in an end-to-end clash at Privett Park.

On 72 minutes, a John Batten free kick created panic in the Thatcham defence and Kevin Brewster slammed the home side ahead but, six minutes later, Mark Green was brought down and Ian Davies made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Winchester City were the only winners in the top six as Wimborne Town suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat at Brockenhurst.

Alan Wright latched onto a through ball from Ross Drew to slot past Magpies' keeper Stewart Kearn ten minutes from time and give the Badgers a notable double over last season's runners-up.

Downton and Hamble ASSC are still anchored at the foot of the table after they suffered away defeats at VTFC and Hamworthy United respectively.

Two goals in the opening 16 minutes put Downton on the slippery slope of a 3-1 reverse at VTFC. Mike Spinney lobbed the keeper after eight minutes and then Gary Biddle flicked in a Marc Diaper free kick.

Kevin Thick headed in a Paul Gulliver free kick to reduce the arrears on 70 minutes but any hopes of a point were snuffed out by the Boatmen ten minutes later when Stewart Beck hammered home Ben Tyrrell's cross.

Hamble ASSC were sunk 1-0 away at Hamworthy, the Dorset champions scoring the only goal of the game after 25 minutes when Steve Gilbert blasted the ball in from the edge of the penalty area.

BAT are up to eighth following their impressive 3-0 victory at Bournemouth Poppies.

"It was an excellent team performance and we played some good stuff in difficult conditions," said BAT boss Andy Leader.

Dean Platt gave the Tobaccomen a 15th-minute lead from the penalty spot following a handball, Lee Hodder netted a second ten minutes later and Matt Czaska lobbed the keeper midway through the second half to complete their tally.

BAT's neighbours Totton were sunk 3-1 at home by Cowes Sports and the Islanders' manager Derek Ohren admitted: "I felt for Totton. We were totally outplayed for 25 minutes and it was the worst I've seen us play, yet we went in 1-0 up at half-time!"

A 20-yard effort by Sam Hart gave Cowes that advantage and, after Totton's Steve Whitcher had blasted a 50th-minute penalty against the crossbar, Matt Bowler rubbed salt in their wounds by heading in a second from a James Butt corner.

Danny Potter did pull a goal back for the home side but Cowes creamed off the points five minutes from time when Butt put Hart clear for number three.

"I'm delighted. That's three points today and that puts us on course for the top ten," added Ohren.

Two-goal Steve Poulton erased any possible relegation fears as fourth bottom Alton Town triumphed 2-1 over Fareham Town, who replied through Pete Wood, while Mike Le Ronde's effort for Christchurch was matched by Stuart Findlay as Bemerton Heath Harlequins drew 1-1 at Hurn Bridge.