Second-placed Gosport Borough took full advantage and closed the gap to three points - with a game in hand - by beating cellar-dwellers Downton 4-0 at Wick Lane.
Borough led after 30 minutes when Danny Sturman headed in a Darren Robson free-kick and Neil Scammell made it 2-0 on 65 minutes with a superb header from Graham Lindsay's lofted cross.
A defence-splitting pass by Perry Holland released Scammell who added their third ten minutes later and Robson completed their tally by chipping the Downton keeper from the edge of the penalty area.
"It's a very pleasing result as we never do well here at Downton," smiled Gosport chairman John Stimpson. "I have to say that Downton didn't look like a side with no points at the bottom of the table."
Gosport's next two matches are away to AFC Newbury tomorrow evening and then they entertain Winchester City next weekend.
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