JUST before Christmas, title hopefuls Clanfield were licking their wounds after losing out to the bottom side in Division 1.

Last Saturday they beat top team Alresford Town to move back into pole position themselves with defender Ben Southgate bagging the all-important goal from a free kick early in the first half.

Delighted Clanfield secretary Stuart Wallis said: "After losing to the bottom side, Verwood, no one was talking about titles. But, if we can go on grinding out results like the one on Saturday, we've got a chance."

Meanwhile Verwood were easing themselves off the bottom of Division 1 for the first time in three months. They won the basement battle with Tadley 3-1 thanks to an own goal and strikes from Ben Giles and Paul Yearby, all within six minutes of each other.

Colin Burdle, 40-year-old former Blackfield & Langley manager, was the hero of Hythe and Dibden's 3-2 victory over high-flying East Cowes Vics in the Premier Division.

Hythe, still stinging from a 9-0 pre-Christmas mauling at Lymington, were two goals down at half-time but came fighting back through Roger Maynard and Nathan Oakley before Burdle struck less than ten minutes from time with a long-range free kick which was deflected in.

Hythe chairman Robbie Parsons said: "We had eight men out when we lost heavily at Lymington, but we've shown good character since then coming back from two behind to draw with Fawley and now this."

It was a black day for Vics who had two players sent off for second bookable offences when it was 2-2.

VT are jealously guarding top spot after an impressive 4-1 win over Amesbury who had only lost one in ten going into the game at Portsmouth Road.

Two goals from Gary Male and one apiece from Martin Cornwall and Andy Turner saw VT home but there was a sting in the tail when they had defender Ross Harrison sent off for retaliation in the second half.

Andover New Street stayed hard on their heels after beating Bishop's Waltham 6-0 at Priory Park where Scott Tarrant (2), Nick Turpin, Stuart Anderson, Jay Mann and Michael Richmond, with a superb left-foot volley, were on target.

Ringwood Town shook off some early rustiness, the result of not having played since November, to topple Locks Heath 3-0. Midfielder Darren Broad, who had only scored once all season, got two of the goals.

Stockbridge powered out of the bottom six after centre-half Dean Savage set up a 5-0 win at Brading. After Savage opened the scoring, Charlie Spencer (2), Lewis Bain (pen) and Steve Witt made hay against a young Brading side.

Former Bashley and Winchester City striker Michael Jackson has gone to Mottisfont to boost their second division title challenge and marked his debut with two of the goals in a 3-2 win at Ludgershall which increased the village side's lead at the top.