TITLE-HOPEFULS Lymington & New Milton extended their impressive four-month unbeaten league record to 15 matches with a crushing 6-0 victory over Fareham at Fawcett Fields.
Ian Robinson's team haven't been beaten in the league since September 11 when they lost 2-1 at Cowes Sports and since then they have collected 41 points from a possible 45.
And the in-form Linnets can overhaul champions Winchester City if they win their four games in hand on the table-toppers.
"I'm very pleased with our performance," purred Linnets' boss Robinson.
"I don't think that I could have asked any more of my players and it sets us up nicely for our games at AFC Totton tomorrow evening and the FA Vase tie at Billingham Town next Saturday."
Darren Powell's cushioned header gave Kevin Reacord the opportunity to open the scoring after 21 minutes and Ben Thomson made it 2-0 just before half time after Reacord's effort had struck an upright.
Reacord, pictured right, turned provider again on 53 minutes with a ball across the face of the penalty area for Jimmy Anderson to slot home and then Thomson's cross was put away on the half volley by Darren Crook after an hour.
Michael Jackson's through ball released Thomson who crossed for Anderson to notch the Linnets' fifth in the 73rd minute with Crook grabbing his second and the team's sixth on 80 minutes.
AFC Newbury remain a single point ahead of the New Forest side following their late winner in a battling 1-0 verdict at VT FC.
Guy Whittingham's team had to wait until the 82nd minute to break the deadlock, Jamie Leacock knocked the ball into the near post area where substitute Guy Roberts managed to sidefoot it past the keeper with his back to goal.
"We played some good football but it was a very frustrating afternoon for us, we had a lot of possession but they always looked dangerous on the break," said Newbury's Jim Goslin.
The Berkshire club also gave a debut to striker Shane Small - a new signing from Southern League Division 1 West outfit Burnham.
Thatcham Town had to come from behind before finally winning 3-1 away at BAT who had taken a fifth minute lead through Steve Kelly.
Thatcham had to wait until the 75th minute before they got back on terms, Ian Davies netting from a Steve Worsfold free kick and, five minutes later, Mark Green fired them ahead with a shot from the edge of the penalty area.
In the final minute, Sean Cook - back from a spell with Salisbury City - teed up Mark Rees who beat the home keeper for Thatcham's third.
Third-placed Wimborne Town also had to overturn a deficit before running out 2-1 victors at home to Christchurch.
The Priory men took the lead after 50 minutes when Richard Bentley turned his marker to sidefoot the ball past Magpies' keeper Stewart Kearns.
Wimborne equalised ten minutes later when Stuart Cannie converted a Marcus Oldbury cross from close range before Cannie netted Wimborne's winner via the penalty spot on 70 minutes after Gareth Barnes had been upended by keeper Max Frampton.
Magpies' manager Paul Arnold reflected: "I really thought that Christchurch deserved something from the game. I guess it was a classic case of nothing going for you when you're in their position."
Andover's 3-0 home win against Portland came at a prize with serious injuries to two key players -Gary Stockwell (torn calf muscle) and Callum Earl (ankle).
The Dorset strugglers held out for an hour until Vince Rusher's corner was flicked on by centre-back Glen Damon and Danny Alpin headed the ball home.
Ten minutes later, Rusher netted a second from the edge of the penalty area with goalkeeper Colin Hopkins scoring from a twice-taken penalty five minutes from time following a foul on Mario Nurse.
After beating Newbury last week, Alex Pike's Hamworthy United side found themselves on the wrong end of the same 2-1 scoreline at Alton.
Matt Rayner's close-range finish gave the home side a tenth minute lead only for Keith Middleton to level for the visitors midway through the first half. Two minutes from time, substitute Graham Purser's cross was cheekily backheeled home by Alton's leading scorer Steve Poulton.
A solitary first-half header from Scott Joyce was enough to clinch Bourne-mouth Poppies all three points against Moneyfields.
Cowes' home game against Brockenhurst was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
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