CAUTION was the key word for Lymington & New Milton last night as they moved to within six points of Wessex leaders Winchester City with a workmanlike 2-0 win at Downton.

Crucially, the New Forest club have three games in hand over the defending champions - yet still manager Ian Robinson refuses to talk titles.

Although Winchester's 2-2 draw at AFC Totton supplied further evidence that the champions may be losing their grip on the crown, Robinson chose instead to highlight the danger posed by dark horses Thatcham.

The second-placed Berkshire club are only four points clear of the Linnets, having played five more games, and were so convinced they wouldn't win the title that they haven't applied for promotion.

But Robinson pointed out: "They've got points in the bag, they're on a great run and their forwards are on fire.

"We, on the other hand, have got a lot of games left and we're heading towards the dreaded Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday scenario without a very big squad."

Unlike wobbling Winchester, who suffered a shock 4-3 defeat at Downton on Saturday, the Linnets were never in any danger as Trefor Smith and a Ben Thomson penalty saw them safely through at Wick Lane.

"It was an efficient performance," Robinson reflected. "We weren't outstanding but we kept the ball well."

For Downton chairman Jim Blake's money, Lymington are champions in the making.

He said: "They're the best side in the league. I rate them higher than Winchester because they've got a bit of pace about them.

"After Saturday's result, tonight was a bit of an anti-climax. Lymington looked comfortable and we didn't really trouble their keeper.

"We had a few players missing, though. Robbie Trim was out and Dan Newman, who scored the two penalties against Winchester, had a virus.

"We also lost our captain Ben Smith halfway through the second half."

At Testwood Park, two former Winchester City youth players helped put a spoke in their old club's defence of the title.

Former City Ground midfielder Matty Monk fired Totton into a fifth-minute lead and, when the Stags later came under the cosh, it was Nathan Golden who twice headed off the line to deny Ian Mancey.

Mancey made it 1-1 on 28 minutes after Mat Jones's long throw had bounced menacingly in the Totton area and Winchester took the lead on the hour when Graeme Gee's cross was missed by a defender, leaving Jamie Musselwhite to fire home.

But Totton kept their unbeaten home league record intact when Steve Whitcher ran at City's new Eastleigh loan signing Danny Rofe and drilled a low shot past Simon Arthur.

Lymington boss Robinson also welcomed the news from Privett Park where title rivals Gosport Borough and AFC Newbury slugged themselves to a virtual standstill in the Wessex League Cup quarter-final.

Action went on long into the night with Gosport eventually winning an epic battle 10-9 on penalties.

"It was the longest game in the history of football," joked Borough's experienced midfielder Darren Robson. "But we're in three cup semi-finals now, so we're off to get our suits fitted!"

Neil Scammell had fired Gosport into a spectacular first-half lead, spotting the keeper off his line and deftly lifting the ball over him from 35 yards.

Newbury hit back with a near-post header, leaving the score 1-1 after extra time.

A Justin Bennett hat-trick was not enough to carry Andover into semi-finals of the Hampshire Senior Cup.

That honour goes to Conference outfit Aldershot Town, who triumphed 6-3 in a Portway Stadium goal feast.