POOLE TOWN joined leaders Lymington Town as clear favourites for promotion to Division 1 next season after the Dolphins triumphed 2-0 in their summit meeting with third-placed LOCKS HEATH.

The crucial result puts Tommy Killick's side seven points clear of third spot with a game in hand, while runaway leaders Lymington are 12 points clear of Heath with three games in hand.

"I thought that we played quite well and, apart from the opening 20 minutes, we were probably a little bit better than them on the day," said manager Killick.

Joe Collins broke the deadlock after 60 minutes and Poole doubled their tally five minutes from time. The home keeper slipped as tried to clear the ball which skewed into the path of Stuart Brown who had time to get on his hands and knees to head the ball over the line!

LYMINGTON TOWN recorded their 20th win in 24 league starts with an emphatic 6-2 win at BRADING TOWN, the Islanders finishing the match with nine men after having both Luke Stone and Adam Holbrook sent off.

Paul Sims gave the Foresters a tenthminute lead from the penalty spot after Phil Stone had been fouled, but Richie Woodburn netted with a far post header to level matters five minutes later.

From the restart, Matt Rosier restored their lead with a looping header and then Steve Jenkin crossed for Stone to nod in a third after 35 minutes, Sims bagging his second from the penalty spot before half-time after Charlie Balfe had been upended.

Danny Hooker reduced the arrears early in the second half but substitute Kev Brennan netted a fifth on 75 minutes and Sims completed his hat-trick in the 85th minute with a neat flick from a Paul Sturmey cross.

Fourth-placed PETERSFIELD TOWN, chasing a sixth straight success, also lost ground when they were beaten 1-0 at home by BLACKFIELD & LANGLEY, Neil Williams netting the all-important goal midway through the second half.

Romsey TOWN returned to winning ways with a 2-1 victory at HYTHE & DIBDEN after the home side had taken an early lead with an angled shot from Mike Naidoo.

Dean Constable, returning to the side from injury, latched on to a through ball by Simon Geddes to equalise for Romsey after 25 minutes with Jamie Hookway - also back in side after two months out - heading home a Simon Woodley free kick on 65 minutes to seal Romsey's win.

An inspired substitution by ALRESFORD manager Keith Curtis helped earn his team a hard-fought 3-2 home win against LISS ATHLETIC. Matty Owen gave the home club a fourth-minute advantage but blows by Andy Neal (34) and Steve Harring gave Liss an interval lead.

Enter substitute Joel Matthews, who equalised with his first touch of the ball after 64 minutes and then scored their winner with his third touch just two minutes later with a header from Lewis Ackerman's cross.

A 20th-minute strike by centre back Simon Davidson secured FAWLEY a much-needed 1-0 victory over STOCKBRIDGE at Long Lane. Stockbridge manager Barry Andrews sighed: "We must have had 30 shots against two for them, but we just couldn't put the ball in the net."