COLDEN Common's stirring second-half revival just failed to earn them a point as they narrowly went down 4-3 after being put to the sword by AFC Portchester's 16-year-old goal sensation Luke Sweeney.

The sharp-shooting Sweeney rifled in a first-half hat-trick and then he added a fourth early in the second as the home club romped into a healthy 4-0 lead.

A foul on Simon Everett gave Jim Hart the opportunity to pull a goal back from the penalty spot before two Dean Higgins strikes set-up a nail-biting finale for the home side.

"Games like this will get the crowds back," smiled Common chairman Cliff Banford.

"We absolutely peppered them and it could have been 8-4 in the end, we hit the upright and had another cleared off the line."

Hayling United are the new Division 3 pacesetters following their 3-1 win at Verwood after leaders Farnborough North End were left without a game following Dave Coleman AFC's decision to withdraw.

However when DC AFC's record is officially expunged, Hayling will lose pole position as they beat the Salisbury side 5-0 - in what was to prove to be their last game - a week earlier.

The clash of the unbeaten pairing of RS Basingstoke and Paulsgrove ended with the Portsmouth-based club securing a 2-0 awayday success.

"It was a bit of a smash n' grab raid but a very good game in hot conditions," said Paulsgrove secretary Jim Garcia.

Martin Whittaker scored both goals from breakaways after 63 and 89 minutes.

A 80th minute penalty, converted by Kristian Pell after he had had his shirt tugged, gave Netley Central Sports a 1-0 verdict over Ordnance Survey at Station Road.

Clanfield are still looking for their first win after drawing 2-2 with QK Southampton.

All the goals came in the second half, Marc Bailey gave QK a 55th minute lead before Chris Smith levelled five minutes later.

Clanfield's Cooke was then red-carded but the ten men took the lead through Mark Selway before Kev Mackay equalised from the penalty spot five minutes from time.