Makeshift striker Paul Roast scored twice as Wimborne Town put the weekend's disappointment behind them to move seven points clear at the top of the Sydenhams Wessex League last night.

The Magpies showed no ill effects of losing their proud unbeaten league record at Newbury on Saturday, bouncing back to beat bottom club Downton 3-0 at Wick Lane.

"We went the whole of 2003 without losing an away game in the Wessex League, so it had to come to an end sometime," said Wimborne boss Paul Arnold.

"I said to the players afterwards that it was gone and there was nothing they could do about it. It was all about how they reacted against Downton."

Roast, who normally plies his trade as a defender, has been pushed up front in recent weeks to fill the void left by Stuart Cannie, who departed for disciplinary reasons.

He scored his first with a header from a terrific diagonal ball by Marcus Oldbury in the 25th minute and struck again five minutes from time, lashing home amid a goalmouth scramble.

Evergreen campaigner Jamie Sturgess was Wimborne's other scorer with a 35th-minute volley after Darren Powell had flicked on Mark Smith's corner.

Asked the secret of Wimborne's success, Arnold can guarantee that it isn't money. He said: "I reckon we pay the lowest wages in the top half of the league.

"What we have is good players with a great team spirit, who are very organised."

Many would also say they have an excellent manager, but Arnold said modestly: "You do your best for the players and hopefully they do their best for you."

Whitchurch are just two points clear of basement boys Downton after a bitterly disappointing 4-1 home defeat against Portland, inflicted by David Laws (2), Andy Turrell and James Reeve.

"I just don't know how we lost it," sighed Whitchurch chairman Tony Chivers. "We had 60 per cent of possession and we scored before they did through Paul Roffey, but the linesman said it hadn't crossed the line."

Substitute George Pitts bagged United's consolation, but it was a poor return for the number of chances the north Hampshire club created. "It was like the Alamo at times and we desperately need someone who knows where the net is," said Chivers.

Third-to-bottom Blackfield & Langley were slayed 1-0 by their former striker Ashkan Karimzadeh at Gang Warily.

The ex-Portsmouth trainee side-footed Brockenhurst to victory on the stroke of half-time following good work by Steve Jenkin and Dave Midgley.

"It was our only good move of the game but we still deserved to win because Blackfield weren't a threat," said Brock player-boss Graham Kemp. "It was a disappointing performance but at least we kept our first clean sheet in four games."

It was an unhappy night for the Watersiders who had defender Mike Collins dismissed in the second half for allegedly talking out of turn to the linesman.

They also conceded a controversial penalty for handball when Ben Hillman slipped to the ground and had the ball whacked against him by Dan Marks, but keeper Paul Bowers made a fine double save from Danny Neville's spot kick.

Thatcham's teenage hitman Ian Davies bagged his 18th goal of the season in a 3-1 home success over Alton.

Russell Green and Hugh Whorriskey scored either side of him with Alton replying in the 90th minute.

The result helped erase some bitter memories for Thatcham boss Steve Melledew, who recalled: "Alton knocked us out of the FA Cup here 2-1 at the start of the season and we were awful that day. We've underachieved in all the major cup competitions and, although we've dragged it round a bit in the league, we should really be a top-six side."

Fareham Town's Hampshire Senior Cup quarter-final against Havant & Waterlooville fell victim of a waterlogged pitch at Cams Alders. Weather permitting, the teams will try again next Tuesday (7.45).