CHAMPIONS WINCHESTER CITY moved a daunting six points clear at the head of the Division 1 table with an emphatic 5-0 victory over second-placed rivals GOSPORT BOROUGH at Privett Park.

"Being a pessimist, I would have taken a draw before the match but we've played really well and it's been an excellent day for the club," smiled City secretary Ray Murphy.

The visitors led on 24 minutes after Mark Smith was tripped by Adam Canfield and Shaun Dyke dispatched the spot-kick.

Four minutes later it was 2-0. Mark Blake's shot was pushed out by keeper Brown and Jamie Musselwhite pounced on the loose ball. Jamie Laidlaw bagged a third right on half time from Smith's cross.

Liam Green's ball over the top of the Borough defence released Musselwhite to make it 4-0 after 76 minutes with Liam Green heading home Ian Mancey's delivery two minutes later to complete their nap hand.

BAT's Paul Masters was both hero and villian as the Tobaccomen beat HAMWORTHY UNITED 2-1 at Southern Gardens in a game of three penalties!

Two handball offences inside the opening 25 minutes were both punished by spot king Masters who was then sent off after 65 minutes for a late challenge.

Another penalty for pulling in the area on 88 minutes saw Kevin Gill reduce the arrears but BAT held on for the points.

"It was a good win in what was a difficult week for us," said BAT boss Andy Leader.

AFC NEWBURY also netted from two penalties inside the opening 35 minutes of their 5-1 awayday victory at BOURNEMOUTH POPPIES.

Each time Newbury striker Anthony Alleyne was brought down by the Poppies keeper and skipper Adam Lang converted the kicks (28 and 34 minutes).

Lang then supplied the cross for Ashley Vine to make it 3-0 before the break with Alleyne setting up Chris Geary to notch the Berkshire club's fourth on 59 minutes. Kishan Chengadu grabbed the home side an 85th-minute consolation with Ryan Williams having the final word after Lee Chudy's shot was parried.

Newbury's neighbours THATCHAM TOWN are up into fifth place after first-half goals by Mark Green and Geoff Neville earned them a 2-0 win at BROCKENHURST.

Badgers boss Graham Kemp sighed: "We are having a bad time at the moment and confidence has hit rock bottom. We're just not the team that went on that great FA Cup run."

AFC Totton chalked up an impressive 4-2 success at ALTON TOWN where new-signings Matty Monk and Steve Whitcher both netted debut goals.

Monk gave the visitors a 20th-minute lead with a firm drive from the edge of the penalty area and then Whitcher headed in Marc Osman's cross to make it 2-0 only for two goals in five minutes by Steve Poolton and Cav Ferris to bring Alton back on terms.

Monk then put Steele Saunders clear to round the keeper and restore Totton's advantage on 75 minutes with Osman making the points safe with their fourth after 80 minutes.

Goals from Carl Mutch and David Newman earned PORTLAND UNITED a shock 2-0 victory at BEMERTON HEATH HARLEQUINS, while Tom Hughes gave CHRISTCHURCH the lead at WIMBORNE, who hit back to grab a point through Stuart Cooper in a 1-1 draw.

Sam Hart gave COWES a first-half lead against the run of play against Fareham TOWN, who levelled through James Crawford.

The Fareham keeper was then sent off for bringing down Phil McDonald on the edge of the penalty area. Andy Rayner netted from the resulting free kick and McDonald added a third.