BOOSTED by the arrival of two of Egypt's Olympic squad, Hamble have climbed into fourth place in the Hampshire/Surrey Regional League, just three points behind leaders Trojans, who have lost their unblemished record.
While Hamble were beating London Wayfarers 5-2, Trojans dropped their first points of the season after a 3-3 draw with Old Whitgiftians.
The two Olympians - simply known to their Hamble team-mates as Ezz and Hamosa for the time being - helped their side into an early two-goal lead against Wayfarers, who had beaten promotion favourites Woking earlier in the season.
Steve Barber's ninth goal of the season got Hamble underway. Brother Paul scored the second before Wayfarers levelled with two well worked short corners.
Egyptian Ezz restored Hamble's lead with a superb individual goal, accelerating into the D before beating two defenders and unleashing an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
Olympic teammate Hamosa had a hand in the fourth, a six-man move culminating in Dave Kelly scoring.
Steve Barber's tenth of the season settled it once and for all for Trojans, who entertain basement club Reigate Priory at Satchell Lane on Saturday, 1pm.
Trojans were unable to convert their mass possession into goals as Old Whitgiftians fought out a 3-3 draw at Stoneham Lane.
It appeared as though it might be plain sailing when Duncan Stewart's reverse stick drive put Trojans ahead, but Old Whits equalised.
Reduced to ten men when Navdip Rai was sin-binned for the second consecutive match, Trojans stormed into a 3-1 lead through Paul Hilton and Colin French.
But two Whitgiftian goals in ten minutes levelled the scores - and cost Trojans their unblemished start.
Southampton are still seeking their first win five matches into the season, but they should take heart from a 4-4 draw with London Edwardians.
Kelvin Wyatt put Southampton ahead, but by half-time his side was 2-1 in arrears.
Gary Watts equalised and then Chris Stokes tucked away a penalty stroke - but Edwardians refused to lie down and scored twice to pinch a 4-3 lead.
The largely home grown Southampton side grabbed a point when Watts forced a late equaliser.
"All in all, it wasn't a bad team performance, with lots of promising building blocks," glowed Southampton's Roger Merry.
Winchester boss Jon Player found it difficult to remain calm after his side frittered away a 3-1 lead and lost 4-3 to Old Kingstonians at Kings.
Winchester controlled the first half and led 2-0 through Rob Craddock and Peter Rowland.
OKs pulled one back from a penalty, but Ben Hibberd restored the two-goal advantage early in the second half.
It all began to go wrong for Winchester when Rowland and Chris Ralph were sin binned.
Winchester's nine men were pinned back in their own half as Kingstonians rattled in three goals to win 4-3.
To add to Winchester's woe, Andy Winnett limped off with a hamstring strain and will probably miss Saturday's visit to high-riding Woking.
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