Winchester City boss Neil Hards admitted his Sydenhams Wessex leaders were way below par in last night's 2-1 home defeat by title rivals AFC Newbury.

Although Kevin Brewster hit back with a lob two minutes after Lee Chudy had fired Newbury in front with an early cross-shot, City had no answer to Chris Geary's 72nd-minute header from Danny Mattingley's corner.

Newbury are fast becoming Winchester's bogey side, having taken four out of six points against the champions last season and Hards acknowledged: "We didn't play very well and were left wanting tonight, which is unlike us. We let in two poor goals - one from a set piece and one from a poor clearance by the keeper"

In City's defence, they were without several key players. Shaun Dyke was unwell, injured strikers Ian Mancey and Jamie Musselwhite were on the bench and there was no Mark Jones or Mark Blake at the back..

On the plus side, Lloyd Webber returned from a spell out with facial injuries and Gary Green went on as a second-half substitute - his first game back after suspension.

With second-placed Thatcham (Bob McClay) held 1-1 at Bournemouth Poppies (Fawzi Saadi), Winchester are still a whopping ten points clear at the top.

Andover, under the caretaker charge of Adie Burford, moved level on points with third-placed Gosport after winning a 4-3 end-to-end thriller at Bemerton. Danny Sullivan (3) and Vinny Rusher struck for the Lions. Bemerton replied through Graham Mankin, Nick Collier and Jason Ahmet. Neil Cole missed two late Harlequins chances.

Brockenhurst did their survival hopes a power of good by coming back from behind to win 2-1 at Wimborne. The Magpies looked good value for Chris Kennedy's first-half goal, but Brock emerged the stronger side after the break, with Alan Wright levelling on the hour and Jason Lovell flooring his old club ten minutes later.

Division 2 underdogs Amesbury Town gave VTFC a fright at Portsmouth Road in the Wessex League Cup third round. The Boatmen scraped through 6-5 on penalties after the teams had battled out a 2-2 draw.

Amesbury's two-goal Kez Roberts had the chance to win it for the Wiltshire side but he missed their fifth penalty and with it the chance of a 4-2 shoot-out success.

VT's Gary Male cancelled out Roberts's 37th-minute opener eight minutes from time before Steve Wheatland put the Boatman ahead after 104 minutes following a goalmouth scramble. Roberts equalised on 118 minutes before Wayne Male's final spot-kick secured Dave Diaper's men a fourth-round date against Gosport Borough who thumped Alresford Town 8-1 at Privett Park.

Hat-trick heroes Neil Scammell (16, 47 & 55) and Graham Lindsay (4, 35 & 80) did the damage for 'Boro with Danny Sturman (73) and 'Pabs' Ndoye (86) also netting, Joe Kearney (56) replying for the Wiltshire outfit.

"Gosport are a quality side and they played very well this evening," summed up Alresford boss Keith Curtis.

Lymington Town bounced back to the top of the Division 2 table at Southampton Road with a 3-0 victory over promotion-chasing Petersfield Town.

Matt Rosier - with his first goal for the club - opened the scoring for the home side after ten minutes with a bullet header from Scott Metcalfe's flag kick.

Lymington doubled their lead five minutes before half time when Steve Jenkin was pulled over in the penalty area and Paul Sims converted the resultant spot-kick.

Their third goal came after 70 minutes. Metcalfe's deep corner to the far post was headed back across goal by Carlo Tate for Kev Brennan to slam home.

"Petersfield worked us very hard but we managed to get the breakthroughs and it's good to be back at the top again," smiled Lymington boss John Pyatt.

Goals by Pete Williams (5) and Chris Yoxall (20) twice gave Bishops Waltham the lead at Liss Athletic, who replied on each occasion through Micky Barrow (15) and Clive Hibbert (65).

Liss missed the chance for all three points when leading goalscorer Andy Neal put a twice-taken 88th-minute penalty over the crossbar.