DEBUTANT Dave Greening was certainly a man in a hurry on Saturday - he helped himself to a first-half hat-trick as Cowes Sports hit Thatcham Town for six at Westwood Park.

"I've picked Dave up from Eastleigh where he had been playing for their reserves and he has got off to a terrific start for us today," enthused Cowes boss Derek Ohren. "It could have been eight or nine as we had too much pace for them. But they never gave up and a couple of changes I was forced to make at half-time saw them get back into it at 5-2."

Cowes were 4-0 up inside the opening 19 minutes and led 5-0 at the break courtesy of goal-hungry Greening plus Andy Watson and an own goal.

Russell Green and Hugh Whorriskey provided the Berkshire side with a little bit of respectability before Phil McDonald bagged the Islanders sixth. Thatcham's Ian Davies had the final word from the penalty spot by making it 6-3 after Mark Reece had been pulled down.

Portland United - without a win since October - continue their slide down the SWL table following a 2-1 reverse to Fareham at Cams Alders.

The home side welcomed back Bjay Green following a three-month injury lay off but they still fell behind midway through the first half when Chris Evans gave the Dorset club the lead. But two goals in five second-half minutes gave Fareham the points. First Paul Morby rammed in Ross Bottomley's cross before Morby turned provider for Lloyd Mitchell to head over the Portland 'keeper.

There are changing fortunes for lowly Whitchurch United who followed up last week's victory at Bemerton Heath Harlequins with another 3-2 success - this time at home to Hamble ASSC.

Paul Roffey gave them a tenth-minute lead when he blasted home a pull back by Matt Bennett only for the home side to find themselves trailing after an hour following strikes from ASSC's Richard Morse and Craig Rickman.

Bennett then rounded the 'keeper to equalise after 70 minutes before substitute Ben Andrews clambered off the bench to crash in a 20-yard left-footed shot just five minutes from time.

Lymington & New Milton's home match with Alton Town was abandoned at 0-0 after 26 minutes following a floodlight failure.

Linnets' secretary John Osey explained: "There was a total failure as the lights wouldn't even come back on after they had cooled down again.

"I understand that the floodlights had been serviced only 48 hours earlier as well!"