PERENNIAL strugglers AFC Aldermaston caused a lot of head scratching following their impressive 3-1 home victory against Brading Town.
"No-one here can remember Aldermaston winning two games on the trot before!" chuckled manager Steve Kirby.
"It was another excellent performance following the 5-2 victory over Ringwood and just what we needed with next week's crucial home game against second-bottom Fawley."
Two superb 20-yard strikes in the opening 11 minutes by Ian Cadnam and James O'Keefe got Aldermaston off to a flying start.
O'Keefe rattled the woodwork with another effort before he rounded off a superb nine-man move to make it 3-0 after 58 minutes. Robbie Spencer also hit the Brading bar before the Islanders bagged an 86th minute consolation.
Poole Town boss Tommy Killick was left fuming after the Dolphins' match at Andover NS was postponed.
"They rang at 10.30 to say that it was snowing, but so what - it was around five degrees outside," argued Killick.
"It's the second time that they've cried off against us and it emphasises just why we want to get out of this division."
Killick's mood wouldn't have been helped by the news that Lymington Town have re-established a seven-point lead at the summit after a Paul Sims, pictured left, hat-trick helped them to a 4-0 win at Hythe & Didben.
Sims netted with two first-half penalties following fouls on Kev James and Danny Veal respectively. Sims completed his hat-trick on the hour mark with a far-post header from Veal's cross before Veal himself added a fourth with a solo effort.
Inventive Romsey manager Trevor Holmes liked his 3-6-1 system in last week's 1-0 win at Lymington so much that he used it again to beat Amesbury 2-0 at the By-Pass Ground.
With the game still goalless after an hour, Holmes switched to his unique formation and was rewarded when Simon Woodley curled home a 65th minute free-kick and then Dean Constable rounded the keeper, twice, to add a second!
Third-placed Locks Heath had to come from behind to maintain their promotion hopes with a battling 2-1 success at in-form Whitchurch United.
A 25-yard strike by Gary Knowles gave the North Hampshire club an interval lead before sub Pete Lines crossed for Mike Summers to volley home after an hour.
Dave Hepple grabbed their winner after good work by Steve Thomas.
High-riding Petersfield's 1-0 defeat at Ringwood means they are leapfrogged in the table by Blackfield & Langley, who won 3-2 at home to Alresford.
Dean Cole gave the visitors a 19th minute lead that was cancelled when Neil Williams latched onto a Danny Mockeridge through ball to find the net via an upright on 35 minutes.
Williams returned the compliment for Mockeridge three minutes later and, although Danny Kyle headed an equaliser right on half-time, sub Rob Morant picked out Williams who slotted home a winner 15 minutes from time.
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