POOLE Town vice chairman Chris Reeves is hoping that the Sydenhams Wessex League committee will allow common sense to prevail after their Division 2 match against Amesbury Town was abandoned last night, writes DEREK HAWKINS.

The aptly-nicknamed Dolphins had splashed their way into a 5-0 lead against the Wiltshire club when, after 75 minutes, match official Neil Hickton deemed that the waterlogged Tatnum Ground pitch was no longer playable.

"The referee intimated to us that the SWL committee could allow the result to stand as enough of the game had been completed," said Reeves.

"I hope the SWL will allow common sense to prevail. The pitch was no worse after 75 minutes than it was earlier and he might have deliberately played until then to allow the possibility of the result being allowed to stand.

"We had torrential rain at half time on an already saturated pitch and the conditions were appalling - we were underwater."

A Poole power show had seen them romp into a 5-0 lead inside the opening 38 minutes.

Stuart Brown's superb dipping 30-yard volley opened the scoring on 13 minutes with Brown slotting home a second seven minutes later after good work by Carl Chivers.

A thumping low drive from the angle of the penalty area by Leigh Manning made it 3-0 after 25 minutes before the Dorset club were awarded a bizarre penalty three minutes later.

An attempted Amesbury clearance hit referee Hickton and dropped kindly for Aaron Turner who was then brought down and Gary Funnell dispatched the spot-kick.

Ollie Cherrett rounded off the scoring with a close-range effort after Amesbury had failed to deal with Funnell's corner.

Locks Heath missed the chance to return to the top of the table when they were held 1-1 by Horndean at a rain-lashed Warsash Road.

Horndean took an early lead when the ball was deflected through to Ashley Howard, who took full advantage of his fortune by rifling home from the edge of the penalty area.

Heath had to wait until the 85th minute for their point-saver, Andy Ricketts crossing for Jim Cuthbert to nod in.

Stockbridge and Ringwood Town also battled out a 1-1 draw in monsoon conditions at the Recreation Ground with Ringwood manager Bob Lane quipping: "Whoever had the tide with them dominated the half!"

The home side took the lead midway through the first half when a Sam Coleman free-kick found Mark Vowles waiting at the far post to head home.

Ringwood equalised on the stroke of half time, a threaded through ball by John Dilling picking out Andy Wright who stroked it past the keeper.

Fawley's home game with Petersfield Town was called off at lunchtime with the goalmouths and centre circle under water.