An emphatic win for Alresford in their local derby against Bishops Waltham on Tuesday moved them further up the table with games in hand on most teams above them.

Alresford were below their best for the first 30 minutes, but gradually began to exert more pressure as the half went on.

They certainly weren't having things all their own way, however, with Dave Witcher in the home goal having to bring off one fine save to deny the visitors the lead.

At the other end Dean Cole went close with a volley from a Grant Young cross in the fifth minute.

Waltham had three successive corners that failed to produce a scoring chance, but shortly afterwards Joe Kearney managed to get his head to a loose ball in the six-yard box only to see it go wide of the post.

It wasn't until the 42nd minute that Alresford opened their account. A free kick taken by Cole just outside the box was deflected by the head of Waltham defender Martin Vidler into the opposite corner of the goal, giving keeper Robbie Paice no chance to save.

The second half saw the home side continue where they had left off at the end of the first. Joel Matthews went close with a chip over the keeper after picking up on a headed back pass which failed to reach Paice.

Alresford continued to press, and in the 70th minute they increased their advantage. A crossfield pass found Cole just inside the penalty area, and his volley crashed against the underside of the bar and back into play with Paice beaten. Kearney was on hand to force the ball over the line, but was injured in the process and had to be substituted soon afterwards.

Shepherdson had the ball in the net four minutes later, but the goal was disallowed after Simon Daunter was adjudged to have fouled a defender in the box.

In the 82nd minute Brett Young won a 50-50 ball midway in the visitors half and passed to Daunter, who in turn released Cole just inside the area. He finished with a fiercely struck shot just inside the near post to make the score 3-nil.

As the game moved into added time Shepherdson made good progress down the left and fed Daunter, who rounded the advancing keeper and stroked the ball into the net for a fourth goal.

A crossfield ball by Grant Young found substitute Matt Owen in the clear, and he coolly chipped the advancing Paice to complete Alresford's nap hand.