SUPER sub Jamie Musselwhite clambered off the bench to secure table-toppers Winchester City their 12th win in 14 starts after Totton had looked like snatching a point.

"We did have lots of chances but Totton kept their shape well and really made us work hard for the points," said City secretary Ray Murphy.

City took the lead after 43 minutes, Matt Bicknell's free-kick found Mark Jones whose header hit the upright and rolled across the goalline for Jamie Laidlaw to prod in.

Totton must have thought that they'd get a point for their efforts on 78 minutes when Mark Osman capitalised on an error between City keeper Simon Arthur and Toby Redwood.

But Musselwhite, on as a 75th-minute substitute, had other ideas. After 83 minutes, Mark Smith found Shaun Dyke who crossed for Musselwhite to head home and then Bicknell flicked the ball up for Musselwhite to make it 3-1 with another header in the last minute.

Second-placed Gosport Borough are still hanging on to their shirt-tails following their 2-1 victory over Bournemouth Poppies at Privett Park.

"It was a disappointing performance from us as we didn't play that well, the only good thing is that we've picked up three points without performing," said Boro's assistant manager Gary Lee.

An individual effort by 'Pabs' Nidouye gave Gosport a 25th-minute lead that Darren Robson extended from the penalty spot on 55 minutes after Nidouye had been brought down by the Poppies' keeper.

But Andover and Fareham, lying third and fourth respectively, both suffered 1-0 defeats.

Bemerton Heath Harlequins were indebted to a Stuart Findlay strike five minutes from time for their surprise 1-0 verdict at Andover - after having three goals disallowed for offside!

"They even wanted our winner chalked off as well," chuckled Bemerton boss Steve Slade, who had earlier seen efforts by Ian Chalk, Billy Baker and Findlay all ruled out for offside.

"We fully deserved our win today as we were the better team which is nice especially as they nicked a few of our players," smiled Slade.

Fareham's single-goal demise at BAT wasn't so unexpected as Andy Leader's side are now unbeaten in their last nine league outings - a run stretching back to August and the second Saturday of the season.

"It's another great result and the run goes on," said the BAT boss. "It was a very tough game but I felt that we were worthy winners, and it's three more excellent points," added Leader.

The game's only goal came after 25 minutes, Paul West playing a one-two with Paul Masters before cutting inside to finish with a sweet strike.

Cowes Sports also conjured up an impressive 1-0 scoreline away at VTFC leaving their manager Derek Ohren to reflect: "It's a great result and we played very well in the first half.

"But we showed a lack of experience in how to kill sides off and they threw everything at us after the break but we defended really well and managed to hang on for the win."

The Islanders' winner came midway through the first half - a neat interchange of passes ending with Jim Moran chipping the home keeper. Earlier the home side had been reduced to ten men when Micky Moffatt was red-carded following his challenge on the Cowes keeper.

A Warren Doyle strike earned Wimborne Town a 1-0 verdict against Alton Town at The Cuthbury, while a first-half goal by Andy Mason gave struggling Portland a much-needed 1-0 success over Christchurch.

Rock-bottom Downton were six minutes away from picking up their first points of the season only to end up losing 3-2 away at fellow strugglers Hamble ASSC.

"I'm bitterly disappointed, we should have come away with the three points," rued Robins' manager Jeff Softley.

Dan Smith gave the Wiltshire side a 43rd minute lead only for Hamble to go straight down the other end and equalise through Paul Miles who headed home a Matt Flynn corner.

Kevin Thick restored Downton's lead after the restart before ASSC manager Larry Clay went with three strikers for the final 15 minutes.

Glenn Colmer smacked in a 30-yard drive to level matters after 84 minutes and then Lewis Johnson nodded in another Flynn corner to break Downton hearts on 89 minutes.

"I felt that we dominated the match territorially but we certainly made hard work of it," admitted Clay.