DOWNTON 4, Winchester City 3. Read it, blink, rub your eyes and then look again at what must surely rank as one of the greatest upsets in the 19-year history of the Wessex League.

Down-and-apparently out, table-proppers Downton, battered 6-1 by fellow strugglers Brockenhurst just four days earlier, toppled last season's FA Vase winners and the reigning champions in a thrill-a-minute seven-goal bonanza at Wick Lane.

"It's an unbelievable result - my chairman is stunned and I'm still hyper-ventilating," smiled delighted Downton manager Jeff Softley. "It was just a brilliant performance from us today. We managed to match them in every department."

The first of three penalties was awarded after 14 minutes, Kevin Thick grappling with City's Shaun Dyke just inside the penalty area and Dyke giving City the lead from the spot.

Downton's equaliser also came via the penalty spot 11 minutes later. This time, Thick was the victim and City keeper Simon Arthur was booked for hauling him down.

Arthur saved Danny Newman's spot-kick but the referee ordered a re-take and this time Newman made no mistake.

Thick was the architect behind the rampant Robins taking the lead on 34 minutes.

His cross found former City striker Mark Daubney, who turned sharply to rifle the home side in front.

Normal service looked to have been resumed when Lloyd Webber crossed for Ian Mancey to make it 2-2 after 51 minutes but, when Thick became the meat in an Adam Rogers and Arthur sandwich, the City keeper received his marching orders for a second yellow.

Striker Mancey took over between the posts but was powerless to prevent Newman bagging his second spot-kick of the afternoon.

An amazing game exploded again on 88 minutes when a Liam Green free-kick was deflected into the net off the Downton wall but the home club argued - to no avail - that the referee hadn't blown for the kick to be taken until the ball had crashed into the wall.

In the heated protests that followed, Downton's double-goal hero Newman was sent-off and a seething Softley was ordered from the dug-out.

Yet the game had one more final and sensational twist some four minutes into stoppage time - a mis-placed pass by Mark Jones seized upon by Matt Guy, who buried a last-gasp decider past the helpless Mancey.

FA Vase heroes Lymington & New Milton comfortably accounted for Hamble ASSC 4-1 at Folland Park after a hat-trick of assists by Ben Thomson saw them romp into a 3-0 lead inside 25 minutes.

Darren Powell was the beneficiary after five minutes with a header back across goal. Darren Crook then added a second after Thomson had hit the post with Crook bagging the Linnets' third from another Thomson delivery.

After 50 minutes, Kevin James crossed for Paul Towler to head into an empty net before Aiden Trevaskis grabbed the home consolation.

"It was a difficult game in that we were expected to win.

"But, as we've seen today, that doesn't always happen - and we're next at Downton tomorrow evening!" smiled Linnets boss Ian Robinson.