IT'S full steam ahead for Division 2 promotion-chasers POOLE TOWN after a double blast by Gary Funnell guided the Dolphins to a 2-0 victory at US PORTSMOUTH.

Poole's goal-scoring central midfielder opened his account just before half-time with a superbly curled free-kick from 25 yards that the home keeper thought was going wide.

Funnell hoisted his season's tally to 12 after 75 minutes when he latched on to a through ball and beat his marker to round the keeper and slot home into an empty net to lift his side up into third place.

"We never hit the heights of previous performances but it was a good, solid workmanlike show today. It's important to get the win because we can't afford to drop many more points," stressed Poole manager Tommy Killick.

All the goals came in the opening 45 minutes as SHAFTESBURY sizzled up into fourth berth following their 5-1 napping of FAWLEY.

Four-goal Peter Skevington and Dave Nuttall did the damage for the Dorset side but Fawley boss Kev Dawtry refused to be downcast, saying: "We're playing some good football but we were punished for conceding four goals in about 15 minutes - and they were all from crosses."

Dave Downie replied for the home side and he also hit the bar and post, with George Kerr also rattling the woodwork for the luckless Oilers.

Fifth-placed PETERSFIELD TOWN kept ALDERMASTON nailed firmly to the foot of the table after beating the Berkshire side 1-0, while ANDOVER NEW STREET are also stuck in the bottom three after strikes by Matt Owen and Ryan Doyle condemned them to a 2-0 defeat at ALRESFORD TOWN.

Hythe & DIBDEN carelessly tossed away a 3-0 interval lead in their 3-3 draw with HORNDEAN at Jones Lane.

"We absolutely destroyed them in the first half and then didn't bother coming out for the second half," sighed Hythe chairman Robbie Parsons.

Wayne Oakley helped himself to a first-half hat-trick before coming off at the break and then he could only watch in horror as Horndean substitute Adam Davey (74), Niall Bodin (80) and Steve Warwick, with almost the last kick, battled back to snatch a point.

AMESBURY TOWN climb the table after they recorded a 4-0 home win against BISHOP'S WALTHAM TOWN.

Lee Cunningham fired the Wiltshire side into a fifth-minute lead, Kez Roberts heading in their second goal after 25 minutes. On 67 minutes, Gavin Richards netted his first goal for the club with centre-half Neil Sole heading a fourth ten minutes from time.

The only league game in Division 3 saw LUDGERSHALL SPORTS earn three welcome points with an impressive 4-2 win at VERWOOD TOWN.

Two-goal Mark Radmore, Russell Evans and Steve Witt all struck in the first half for the visitors and Radmore spurned a hat-trick chance when he blazed his spot-kick wide.