HAMPSHIRE'S under-21s took a massive leap towards retaining their Southern Counties Alliance Championship with an important 4-0 win over the Royal Navy at Portsmouth's Victory Stadium this week.

Playing against a strong wind in the first half, Hampshire had all the early pressure, their best chance falling to Havant & Waterlooville's Graham Gillman, who intercepted a back pass but shot just over.

Gillman atoned in the 28th minute by giving Hampshire the lead. He picked up the ball past the halfway line and went on a dazzling run before firing past the keeper.

Netley Central's Ricky Bull made it 2-0 on 33 minutes but Hampshire were lucky not to concede a penalty just before half-time when Eastleigh keeper Gary Morris came out for a cross, missed the ball and took out the Navy centre forward.

Luckily, the referee was unmoved.

Gillman scored his second of the game in the 51st minute after a good three-man move and, from that point, Hampshire oozed confidence.

Managers Jim Nicholson and Derek Brewster took the opportunity to introduce Fleet Town's Cameron Scammell to representative football and he repaid them with an 80th-minute fourth.

Hampshire have one game left away to the Army.

Hampshire squad: Gary Morris (Eastleigh), Tom Woodward (Horndean), Simon Stone (Gosport), Wayne Boud (Gosport), Adam Howarth (Cirencester), Lee Wood (Newport), Aaron Fennemore (Horndean), Graeme Gillman (Havant & Waterlooville), Ricky Bull (Netley Central), Louis Johnson (Moneyfields), Darren Spong (Basingstoke), Henry Howes (Winchester City), Lee Blakely (Petersfield), Jon Gibbens (Bashley), Cameron Scammell (Fleet).