HAT-TRICK hero Andy Forbes scored for his 13th game running as Winchester City taunted ten-man Thatcham 8-1 at the Denplan City Ground last night.

The Sydenhams Wessex table-toppers were already leading by an early Kevin Brewster goal when Thatcham's Ashley Perry was sent off for a professional foul on Forbes with 11 minutes gone.

Without further ado Dave Goss bundled home City's second and then Danny Oatway's trip on Matthew Bicknell presented Forbes with his first from the penalty spot - albeit that it took him three attempts to find the net.

Twice Alan Mann denied him, but twice the Thatcham 'keeper was adjudged to have moved and Forbes made it third time lucky.

The Reading-based hot-shot scored twice more in the 36th and 66th minutes, sandwiching those goals around an Adam Rogers header from Bicknell's cross.

Ian Davies reduced the arrears, but Winchester's hunger for goals was still not satisfied as Liam Green set up Lloyd Webber to make it 7-1 and then 19-year-old Rogers put the icing on the cake in the 90th minute from a Forbes assist.

City's big targetman Ian Mancey missed the match having broken his thumb in Saturday's Hampshire Senior Cup win over Cowes.

Second-placed Wimborne remain seven points adrift of City after coming back from behind to beat Fareham 2-1 at Cams Alders.

After a good first-half performance, Fareham - stripped of the services of Jamie Musslewhite, Bjay Green and Lloyd Mitchell - edged ahead through Paul Morby.

But Gareth Barnes turned the tide with goals in the 60th and 80th minutes to maintain the Magpies' unbeaten start.

AFC Newbury made amends for Saturday's 4-2 reverse against lowly BAT by punishing managerless Andover 4-1 at The Portway Stadium.

Justin Bennett's goal kept the Lions in it 1-1 at half-time, but Newbury took advantage of a second-half collapse with Anthony Alleyne, Adam Collier and Danny Mattingley joining Jamie Leacock on the scoresheet.

Newbury boss Guy Whittingham admitted: "Nothing against BAT, but it's frustrating to lose to a team like that and then go and beat Andover 4-1. The difference was that we wanted to win tonight whereas on Saturday we thought we were going to win."

The dismissal of goalkeeper Dave Smalley on a linesman's advice proved the turning point of lowly Whitchurch's 6-1 demise at Moneyfields.

Although the referee waved play on when Smalley slid out to block oncoming forward Lee Mould, his assistant flagged for handball outside the area.

The score was 1-1 when Smalley saw red and Moneyfields secretary Paul Lipscombe confessed: "It was a bit of a harsh decision. We went 2-1 up straight from the free kick by Mark Stewart and then couldn't stop scoring. It's a shame because Whitchurch are a nice club, but when you're down the bottom things go against you."

Matt Stillman (2), new signing Nicky Wyatt, Bickram Singh and Danny Boyle completed the scoring as Moneyfields made it ten games unbeaten in league and cup.

Nick Kemp's goal was cancelled by an own goal as Brockenhurst were held 1-1 by Portland at Grigg Lane, while Pete Moore's Christchurch outgunned Bournemouth Poppies 2-1 courtesy of Richard Bentley and Graham Dean. Colin Dand scored for Poppies.

Cowes Sports surged up to seventh with a 3-2 home win over Bemerton Heath Harlequins.