Winchester clawed back a three-goal deficit - only to lose 4-3 to Hampshire/Surrey Regional League neighbours Hamble at Satchel Lane.

Hamble, beaten just once in their last 12 outings, controlled the first half and established a 2-0 lead through Paul Barber and Duncan Marsh.

They frittered away several good chances before teenager Rory Marsh nailed disjointed Winchester with a third before half-time.

But Winchester, whose opening 35 minutes were described as "rubbish" by skipper Mark Dobbie, hit back hard after the break with Dutchman Merijn van Willigen - taking a time-out from his coaching role with the Trojans women's team - firing home two drag flicks, which goalkeeper Mike Chalcraft might have dealt with.

Hamble's three-goal cushion disappeared altogether when Andy Winnett equalised for Winchester from a quickly-taken free-hit.

Winchester suffered a spate of yellow cards - Peter Rowland incurring the umpire's wrath twice in quick succession - and were only minutes away from snaring a point.

In a dramatic finale, Kevin Stubley hit the Winchester upright from a penalty flick - awarded for a foul on Steve Barber - but Hamble's pressure eventually paid off when Giles Matthews glided past two defenders to set up Steve Barber for the late winner.

The victory kept Hamble - who visit table topping Barnes on Saturday - within three points of Trojans, who trimmed Basingstoke 2-0 on the Down Grange water-based surface, where Wayne Shepherd scored both goals.

Fresh from friendly wins over Southampton (9-3) and Fareham (6-1), Trojans controlled proceedings and took the lead from their fourth penalty corner - Shepherd bagging his tenth goal of the season.

Simon Lucas, who hit the crossbar, and Colin French, with a rasping reverse stick shot which flashed inches too high, dominated the centre-field

Shepherd's second, points-clinching goal came midway through the second period when he wrong-footed the Basingstoke goalkeeper.

Trojans II remain third in the Second XI Regional League after a 2-0 win over Basingstoke, while Kent Langridge and Hugh Woodward set up Winchester's 2-1 win over Hamble.

Southampton's Hampshire League promotion hopes are well and truly over after a 4-1 defeat at Fleet, while the University bounced back from a 3-1 loss at Wimborne to trim high riding Yateley 4-3.

Fareham lost valuable ground in the South Second XI League promotion race after crashing 5-0 at Brighton & Hove.

They had beaten Epsom 6-4 the previous week - Dec Colclough (2), Sean Shilling (2), Danny Morgan and Colin Bradbury (penalty) were on target - but goal-king Alan Shorthouse again failed to find the net.

"Alan had the Midas touch before Christmas, virtually scoring goals for fun, but all top goalscorers suffer lean spells and I'm certain he'll bounce back," remarked 2nd XI captain Bradbury.