Hamble ASSC hauled themselves off the foot of the Wessex League table with a battling 0-0 draw at Gosport - but boss Danny Bowers missed it!

Buoyant Bowers was on his way back from Paris after celebrating his anniversary in the French capital and joked: "I was getting a running commentary on the game at Charles De Gaulle airport!

"It's a fantastic result that lifts us off the bottom and all the boys have been ringing up to tell me the result.

"There's a fantastic spirit in the dressing room and this point might just be the one that keeps us up."

The other results at the bottom certainly went Hamble's way with Downton and Portland both losing at home to Fareham and VT FC respectively.

Strikes by Lewis Finnemore, Floyd Hamoudu and James Ford powered Fareham into a comfortable 3-0 lead before a late rally from the Robins saw Paul Gulliver and Dan Newman pull the scoreline back to 3-2.

"We had seven players out and too many of them were in key positions," sighed Downton boss Jeff Softley. "We need our best 11 players out on the pitch if we are going to win matches."

VT FC manager Dave Diaper was away in the Swiss Alps while his side were busy beating Portland 4-2 at Grove Corner.

Mike Spinney gave the Boatmen a tenth minute lead from the penalty spot after he had been upended and then he notched a second on 35 minutes after latching onto a through ball from Kevin Gibbens.

A handball gave Spinney the chance to complete his hat-trick just before half-time but the keeper saved the twice-taken kick on each occasion.

Stewart Beck added a third straight after the restart before Gibbens lobbed the keeper after an hour to make it 4-0. The hosts netted twice late on through Scott Dennis and Michael Wisden.

At the top, Winchester City and Lymington & New Milton pulled clear of the chasing pack with important away wins.

Winchester took the lead after three minutes at Christchurch when Mark Smith swung the ball in from the right and Ian Mancey fired home from 15 yards.

Matt Bicknell added a second midway through the half after keeper Max Frampton had parried efforts from Mancey and Adam Rogers.

Sam Percival pulled a goal back on 74 minutes with a looping header before Lloyd Webber sealed a 3-1 verdict with an 18-yard drive across the keeper.

"Our football in the first half was the best that we have played for some time," reflected City secretary Ray Murphy.

Lymington & New Milton manager Ian Robinson handed Jimmy Sheppard the skipper's armband against Bemerton for what was probably his last ever match in a long and distinguished local career.

"Jimmy starts a suspension now which takes up until the end of the season when he plans to hang up his boots. He was clapped off the pitch by the players at the final whistle," said Robinson.

Trefor Smith headed the Linnets into a first half lead after Harlequins had failed to clear the ball properly and Kev James made it 2-0 with a shot from just outside the penalty area before the hosts grabbed a late consolation.

"Bemerton fought all the way and every game is like a cup final now and we've 12 more to go. We're not playing that well but we're winning," added Robinson.

Wimborne defender Nick Plank was taken to hospital with a suspected dislocated ankle in their 1-1 draw with BAT at Southern Gardens.

Richie Gregory crossed for Dean Platt to head the Tobaccomen into a 15th minute lead but the Magpies levelled five minutes later with a Paul Roast header.

"We were the better side for long periods and it was a decent performance after two defeats, but it's two points dropped," rued BAT boss Andy Leader.

Two-goal Scott Joyce and Karim Bennsaouda were on target as Bournemouth Poppies triumphed 3-0 over Alton Town.

Vince Rusher's pair for Andover earned them a point in a 2-2 draw at Hamworthy United, who replied through Brett Williams and Anthony Tilley.