GOAL-GRABBING Gareth Barnes bagged a deadly double to steer Wimborne Town up into fourth place in the Division 1 table with a comfortable 2-0 victory over local rivals Hamworthy United.
The Dorset derby at The Cuthbury was one of only two morning kick-offs to survive yesterday's winter white-out which reduced the SWL programme to just six games.
Barnes opened his account after 25 minutes - Stuart Cooper's corner wasn't cleared properly and the Magpies' master marksman smacked it home from close range.
Keith Middleton missed a great chance to level for Hamworthy - managed by ex-Wimborne boss Alex Pike - and they were made to pay after 75 minutes when Barnes flicked in Cooper's cross at the second attempt for his 16th league goal of the season.
Barnes, who also had another effort cleared off the line, was denied a hat-trick just minutes later when his strike was ruled out for offside by the assistant referee.
"I'm very pleased with the win as it gives us back-to-back victories. Hopefully we can start to build up a head of steam now," said Wimborne manager Paul Arnold.
AFC Newbury jumped to third after coming from behind to triumph 2-1 in their big Berkshire derby clash with second-placed Thatcham Town at Waterside Park.
Tommy McCormack latched onto a ball played over the top of the Newbury defence to fire the home side into a 15th-minute lead but that was short lived as, ten minutes later, Danny Taylor rifled in an equaliser.
Newbury's winner came after 75 minutes. Skipper Adam Lang struck a 20-yard free-kick that the home keeper could only push against the crossbar and the ball somehow squirmed its way into the back of the net.
Bournemouth Poppies have already exceeded their points tally for last season after a 4-0 home success over Portland United took them onto 31 - one more than in 2003/04.
The damage was done inside the opening 25 minutes as Poppies raced into a 3-0 lead.
Karim Bennsaouda beat two defenders to slot in their first after six minutes.
Lewis Till volleyed in Alex Jones's corner kon 15 minutes before the same two players combined again for their third, Till returning the compliment with a ball across the face of goal for Jones to slide home.
Poppies' fourth arrived after 70 minutes, Lamin Dibba threading through a slide-rule pass for Bennsaouda to round the keeper and tuck the ball into an empty net.
In Division 3, second-placed Paulsgrove took full advantage of their promotion rivals' inactivity to move level with leaders Farnborough North End following their 6-0 slaying of QK Southampton.
A QK defender accidentally steered a Jason House cross into his own net to give Paulsgrove a 28th-minute lead which the home side didn't double until Gary Wearne drove the ball through a congested penalty area and into the net after 65 minutes.
Four goals in the last ten minutes gave the home side a more flattering scoreline with Richie Parkes heading in number three from Adam Holman's cross.
House fired their fourth through the keeper's legs on 85 minutes, Martyn Whittaker stormed down the left to notch their fifth just 60 seconds later with House completing the scoring after 88 minutes.
Paulsgrove's neighbours Fleetlands also weighed in with six of the best as they humbled Hamble Club 6-0 on their own patch.
Jamie Lunn nodded home a Steve Brittan corner to give the visitors a tenth-minute lead.
Lee Baldaccino doubled it nine minutes later with a superb solo effort which saw him beat four players before slotting past the keeper.
Six minutes later, Mark Peach tapped in from close range for the third and then Peach headed in a Danny Thompson corner on 55 minutes to make it 4-0.
Brittan bagged number five with a fierce angled drive before Peach completed his hat-trick with his 31st goal of the season on 78 minutes when he scrambled the ball home from Brittan's flag kick.
Ordnance Survey recorded their third straight victory with an impressive 3-1 away success at Ludgershall Sports.
James Chalk gave the Mapmen a tenth-minute lead with a sweet strike from just outside the penalty area before Mark Radmore's far-post finish brought the Wiltshire side back on terms after 46 minutes.
Survey moved ahead again on 70 minutes.
The lively Stuart Penman was felled in the area and Lewis Fry converted the resultant spot-kick.
Paddy Partridge rounded three Ludgershall defenders and dumped the keeper on his backside before sliding in their third in the final minute.
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