The big day itself may still be more than two weeks away but the Jewson Wessex League has already started going Christmas crackers!

Seasonal strugglers Hamble ASSC find themselves in the lofty heights of seventh place following their 1-0 victory at Bournemouth Poppies, while Bemerton Heath Harlequins 'keeper Colin Hopkins scored the first two goals in his side's 6-0 whipping of Whitchurch United.

Hamble ASSC boss Larry Clay was delighted with his team's win, saying: "That was probably our best performance of the season so far.

"Jamie Musslewhite will no doubt take all the plaudits because he has scored the winning goal, but it was a great all-round team effort and a real battling performance from the lads.

"This club have never been higher than eighth place in all its time with the Wessex League. But today Hamble ASSC sit in seventh place and, although it's something of a false position in terms of having played more games than the others, we are really going to enjoy this moment."

The Planemakers' winner came ten minutes from time when Musslewhite smacked in a fierce left-footed angled shot from 12 yards.

Two successful penalties by Bemerton's Hopkins inside the opening 25 minutes provided the launchpad for their crushing 6-0 home win over basement battlers Whitchurch.

The first spot-kick was for pulling and the second was awarded when the Whitchurch 'keeper bizarrely decided to trip a Bemerton player after catching the ball.

Neil Cole and Danny Aplin also plundered doubles - but the Harlequins should have had more.

Bemerton boss Steve Slade reflected: "If you can be disappointed with a 6-0 victory then this was probably it.

"Lymington & New Milton put ten past them in midweek and we should have done the same today having gone 5-0 up just after half-time, but it all seemed to deteriorate after that.

"Having said that, I would have taken 6-0 before the game and we've gone something like six games unbeaten now. We need to capitalise by getting the lions' share of the points from our next six matches and then see where we are in January."

Two Jimmy Anderson strikes in the last eight minutes secured Eastleigh a 3-1 win at Cowes to move back to the top of the table.

Paul Doswell's table-toppers took a 16th-minute lead through Robbie Matthews but were pegged back around the hour mark when 'keeper Colin Matthews pulled down Darren Powell, allowing former Eastleigh man Mark Burroughs to tuck away the spot-kick.

But then Anderson popped up with his late double to leave Cowes manager Derek Ohren shaking his head. "I'm a bit disappointed because I felt we contained them and I think the scoreline flatters them," he said.

"Things are just not going for us at the moment but we'll keep battling away to turn things around."

Thatcham had to play most of their game at Gosport with ten men having had Jamie Green sent off after 11 minutes for a second bookable offence.

An untidy match was settled after 60 minutes with a goal in keeping with the game - Boro's newly-promoted reserve team striker Mark Peach jumping to head the ball and sending it into the net off of his shoulder instead!

Gosport manager Gary Lee said: "The result was the only pleasing thing from a very scrappy affair. It wasn't helped with Thatcham losing a player and then sticking nine men behind the ball. We struggled to break them down but I'd rather play badly and win than play well and lose."

Downton boss Mitch Blake was content with a point from his side's goalless draw against Fareham.

"It's another good result for the club a draw was a fair result . Brian White hit the upright for us but we were solid at the back and keeper Andy Bailey made some good saves."