WEST is best - not that VT FC boss Dave Diaper needed reminding again on Saturday as BAT wideman Paul West scored twice for the Tobaccomen in their 4-1 victory over the Boatmen at Southern Gardens.

Ironically, West was the man that Diaper, pictured below, had tried to sign before Christmas and it sparked a lengthy dispute between the two clubs as to whether West was under contract at the FA - as reported in Friday's Daily Echo.

With the matter now resolved, VT drew first blood after five minutes when Gary Male netted from the penalty spot only for the Baccy Boys to reply ten minutes later through Lee Hodder, who nodded home a short corner by Richie Gregory.

West then gave BAT a 25th-minute lead with a fine individual effort that had his manager Andy Leader purring: "Westie was unplayable in the first half and he could have easily have scored a hat-trick."

Simon Elliott also hit the woodwork for BAT, who added a third on the hour mark when West again scored with another individual effort before a lovely ball by West found Paul Masters who picked out Matt Czastka to fire in their fourth after 70 minutes.

Former BAT assistant Danny Bowers picked up his first league win as Hamble ASSC manager with a battling 1-0 victory at fellow strugglers Portland United.

"I'm absolutely delighted. It was a fantastic performance by our lads," smiled Bowers. "In fact, you'd better start calling me Harry Redknapp - we're second bottom in the league, we've no money to spend and no one wants to come here!"

Hamble's winner came 20 minutes from time when Trevor Cox's corner kick was met at the far post by the head of Ross Bottomley.

Bemerton Heath harlequins manager Steve Slade was happy, if not puzzled, after watching his side notch up their third consecutive victory with a 1-0 home success against Fareham Town.

"Football's such a strange game," reflected the bemused Bemerton boss. "How can you lose 13 and draw one of your 14 matches and then go and win three on the spin - and with two clean sheets!" added Slade.

Harlequins' winning goal came two minutes from time courtesy of a first-ever goal from Rob Guy, who netted with a left-footed drive from the edge of the penalty area.

Table-toppers Winchester City stretched their lead back to seven points with a 2-1 victory away at Bournemouth Poppies.

On 33 minutes, Mark Jones forced home a Liam Green free kick and, five minutes later, Jones doubled City's lead with a well-placed header from a Shaun Dyke corner. Poppies replied midway through the second half when Karim Bennssaouda netted after combining well with Alex Jones.

Wimborne Town were the only other top-six side to pick up maximum points after blows by Stuart Cannie (2), Stuart Cooper, Marcus Oldbury and Gareth Barnes steered the Magpies to a 5-2 win at Alton Town, whose first-half replies came from Steve Poulton and Richard McCann.

Second-placed Thatcham Town missed out because their home game with Cowes Sports was postponed due the high winds forcing the ferry companies to cancel services to and from the mainland.

Thatcham's third-placed neighbours suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat away at Hamworthy United, second-half strikes by Darren Orchard (58) and Keith Middleton (84) giving Alex Pike's side the points despite a last-minute reply from Newbury skipper Adam Lang.

Rivals Gosport Borough and Lymington & New Milton shot each other in the foot by drawing 1-1 at Privett Park. Graham Lindsey headed the home side into a 23rd-minute lead, Sam Carter crossing for Michael Jackson to level 11 minutes later.

Former Winchester City defender Kieron Hall made his Andover debut in their 2-1 victory over AFC Totton at The Portway.

In an even first half, Matthew Monk curled home a 22-yard free kick to give the visitors a 24th-minute lead only for the Lions to roar back on the stroke of half-time when Callum Earl also netted with a free kick after Vince Rusher had been fouled.

Andover grabbed all three points with an 88th-minute decider when Mario Nurse drove the ball goalwards from the penalty spot; the ball was blocked by a defender on the goalline but dropped invitingly into the path of Justin Bennett who made no mistake.

Callum Robertson gave bottom club Downton the lead with a twice-taken first-half penalty against Moneyfields but they had to settle for a point in a 1-1 draw after Danny Horrell also scored from the penalty spot four minutes from time.

There was a welcome win for beleaguered Christchurch manager Pete Moore as they triumphed 2-0 at home to Brockenhurst, a 25th minute volley by James Bailey-Pearce coupled with a cool finish by 17-year-old Steve Bernard after 75 minutes securing the Priory men maximum points.