BAT paid the price for not taking their chances in a surprise 2-1 home defeat by Wessex basement boys Downton.

"We weren't clinical enough," confessed manager Andy Leader, who had nothing but praise for the quality of Downton's goals.

He said: "Their first goal was worthy of winning any game - the guy must have hit it from 45 yards.

"We pushed on, but Downton scored with another good strike from outside the box.

"We chucked the kitchen sink at them after that and Dave Lewis scored for the second game running - and that was a good strike, too.

"It wasn't enough, though, and sometimes you've got to be gracious in defeat and say the other team deserved it."

Hat-trick hero Stuart Findlay took centre stage in Bemerton's 7-0 home hammering of Hartley Wintney.

Neil Cole (2), Jason Harsant and Billy Baker were the supporting cast.

The all-Wessex tie between Brockenhurst and Hamble ASSC was postponed.

Patience was the name of the game for Lymington Town after a late strike by Kevin James finally booked their place in the second round after extra-time at Southampton Road.

After battering the Cove defence for 114 goalless minutes, Steve Jenkin swung the ball to the far post, where James gleefully swept it home and Town could even afford the luxury of a Danny Veal missed penalty four minutes later.

"Cove came here and stuck ten men behind the ball right from the off - I never seen anything quite like it," said Lymington boss John Pyatt.

"But we've kept our shape and patience and have managed to come through."

East Cowes Vics took a 15th-minute lead through Paul O'Connor at Petersfield Town, but that was as good as it got for the Islanders who crashed out 5-1.

Strikes by Gavin Keogh and Russ Bishop put the Love Lane outfit 2-1 up by the break and further second half blows by Keogh, Ashley Gurr and Keogh's older brother Barry completed their nap hand.

Horndean hat-trick hero Ashley Howard was left empty-handed after netting three equalisers against Combined Counties League high-fliers Sandhurst Town, who scored twice in the last ten minutes to snatch a 5-3 verdict.