WHILE Fleet Town celebrated their first Ryman Division 1 win at Croydon last night, the picture remained bleak over at Newport IoW, where John Linington's side drew another blank in their fourth league defeat in a row.

Yet again the rock-bottom Islanders slipped up 1-0, this time against Walton & Hersham, whose winning goal came seven minutes from time after keeper Joe McCormack had pushed an initial effort onto the bar.

"I feel sorry for the lads," confessed Port's former secretary Chris Cheverton. "We haven't got the class of years gone by and the boys realise that, but they worked ever so hard.

"It's a bit tragic really. We competed well, but it was like an accident waiting to happen. Walton always looked the likelier scorers."

No such problems for Fleet, for whom two former Bashley players hit the mark in their 3-1 success.

Gary Connolly struck first from 16 yards, but goal-of-the-night came from another ex-Bash boy Neil Morant, who ran through a static defence from the halfway line before lobbing the keeper.

Shaun Hale bagged Fleet's third before Croydon hit back with a late penalty given for hands against Morant.

Manager Mick Catlin said: "It wasn't a brilliant first half, but in the second half we were excellent. We passed the ball really well."

Andover have crept onto Gosport Borough's shoulders at the top of the Sydenhams Wessex League.

Although the Lions have not yet clicked into top gear, last night's 3-1 result at pointless Downton made it four wins out of four for Brian Le Boutillier's men, who trail Borough on goal difference.

Goals by experienced duo Phil Andrews (2) and Vince Rusher kept the victory march going in the absence of last season's injured top scorer Justin Bennett.

Chairman Alan Mussell admitted: "We're not playing all that well at the moment, but we're winning games. When we get Justin back, we'll be on fire."

Basingstoke Town missed the chance to go back top of the Nationwide Conference South when beaten 2-1 at Weston-super-Mare.

Ernie Howe's surprise early-season pacemakers held out for a goalless first half, but were then caught by goals from Dave Gilroy and Marc McGregor in a five-minute spell.

Former AFC Totton skipper Martin Whiddett halved the deficit three minutes from time, but it was too little, too late for fourth-placed Town.