ANYONE who believed the loss of Andy Forbes would seriously hinder Winchester City's goal-scoring prowess must think again.

It was business as usual for the league champions and FA Vase winners at the Denplan City Ground last night where Downton were dismantled 6-0.

Jamie Laidlaw opened the scoring after just one minute, but it was Forbes's old sidekick Ian Mancey who did the bulk of the damage with a hat-trick. On 22 minutes he pounced on the rebound after keeper Charlie Streeter had parried Lloyd Webber's long-range piledriver and then headed home Adam Rogers's cross early in the second half.

Matt Bicknell made it four with a low, left-foot shot before substitute Stuart Cannie followed up Saturday's four-goal spree for the reserves with a 30-yard beauty.

Mancey completed his hat-trick on 79 minutes with the help of a Rogers assist.

There was another goal feast at Testwood Park where Stuart Ritchie marked his first home game as AFC Totton boss with a 5-0 hammering of Hamble ASSC through Danny Barker, Gareth Byers and a Mark Osman hat-trick.

The only blot on Stags' evening was the second-half dismissal of Scott Bundy for talking out of turn to a linesman.

Totton's Saturday conquerors Bemerton chalked up a second home win, 3-2 at the expense of Brockenhurst, who'd been leading 2-1 with ten minutes to go.

Lee Winsall got both Brock goals, but then Neil Cole bagged his second of the night before Stuart Findlay struck Harlequins' 88th-minute winner.

Brock boss Graham Kemp reflected: "We scored very early and that was our downfall. We've got to get out of the mentality that if we get in front we have to defend at all costs."

Goals by Gosport trio Neil Scammell, Darren Robson and Graham Lindsey disposed of Moneyfields 3-1 at Privett Park and Mick Marsh's men are joined on maximum points by Andover who, by manager Brian Le Boutillier's own admission, were "fortuitous" to edge Fareham 1-0 at a rainswept Portway Stadium.

After missing several chances themselves, Farehamfell behind to a Danny Sullivan header, but they should have made amends late on. With 88 minutes gone Floyd Hamoudu was upended in the area, but Adam Stallard's rocket penalty was saved by Colin Hopkins. Then, in the dying seconds, Town's James Lacey shot narrowly wide.

Fareham were streets better than in Saturday's opening day pasting by Thatcham and Le Boutillier acknowledged: "They played some good stuff. If I'd been Fareham's manager, I'd have been disappointed to lose."

The league's two newcomers, VT FC and Hamworthy United, both managed draws on their travels

Having gone 1-0 up through John McFarlane early in the second half, Vosper were pegged back to 1-1 at Cowes Sports by a free kick 15 minutes from time.

A late fracas led to VT's coach Mike Marsh being shown red and banished from the technical area.

VT boss Dave Diaper admitted: "It was a tough game in quite greasy conditions. I'm quite pleased with the result. If we don't get three points, let's make sure we get one."

There was a dramatic finale at Thatcham where Alex Pike's Hamworthy fought back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 - with ten men!

Having shipped two goals inside the first eight minutes, the Dorset champions hit back through Darren Orchard but then conceded again on the stroke of half-time.

The outlook got bleaker for Hamworthy when defender Brett Williams was sent off, but they switched to a 4-4-1 and never looked back. A Tommy McCormick free kick and a 30-yard Scott Bedward wonder goal pulled them back on terms and United also hit the bar and had a goal ruled out for offside.

Pike said: "I'm filled with encouragement by the way we fought back, but in the cold light of day we scored three away from home and didn't win."

The night's other game ended 1-1 between Bournemouth and last season's runners-up Wimborne.