Totton tormentor Martin Whiddett celebrated his return to his old Alton Town stamping ground with a superb hat-trick to ease Ian Robinson's unbeaten side to a 4-1 away-day success.

Whiddett had opened the scoring after 35 minutes when he managed to get the final touch to Peter Clark's cross just ahead of Alton defender Nathan Bray, but the lead only lasted five minutes as Ian Dyer pounced for an equaliser.

And that 1-1 scoreline prompted some harsh words from Totton manager Robinson during the interval. "I was a bit embarrassed at the break," he admitted.

"We were sloppy, we weren't on the ball, we had no energy and were inept and I'll admit that I read them the riot act at half-time.

"I know we had the disappointment of the FA Cup exit recently but if we want success then we have to come to places like this and win. It was much better in the second half and I'm happy in the end - we've done the job and kept the unbeaten run going," added Robinson.

Immediately after their half-time roasting, Totton regained the lead when Patrick James's cross was knocked home by Whiddett, who completed his hat-trick after 56 minutes with another close-range finish.

Mark Osman rounded off the scoring five minutes from time when he raced clear on goal to beat the 'keeper.

Eastleigh are also unbeaten - and they climbed into second place in the table following their 5-0 demolition of Blackfield & Langley at Ten Acres.

Boss Paul Doswell purred: "It was a very good win and we're playing some lovely football at the moment as well as picking up the results. We had nearly 200 people through the gate today and I think they're starting to like what they see."

Kevin Reacord gave Doswell's men the lead after six minutes by capitalising on a poor back pass and they doubled their advantage on 25 minutes when Chris White headed in Christer Warren's flag kick.

Martin Beck beat two defenders to plunder a third, Robbie Matthews rifled a 25-yard free kick for number four and Reacord completed the nap hand by heading home another Warren corner kick. That victory puts Eastleigh just a single point behind leaders Newbury, who could only manage a goalless draw against Cowes at Westwood Park after missing a late penalty.

Cowes 'keeper Streeter saved James Caswell's poorly struck 85th-minute spot-kick but Newbury boss Andy Lyne admitted that his table-toppers didn't deserve the win.

"It would have been unjust had we nicked it as the draw was a fair result," he said. "Generally it was a poor game but we've not lost and we've kept a clean sheet and with a run of away games coming up that's very important," said Lyne.

BAT muscled their way into the top five after strikes from Danny Boere and Dean Platt saw off Fareham 2-0 at the Sports Ground.

"I'm very happy," smiled BAT boss Andy Leader. "We've put in a good solid performance today and got the three points we needed. "I reckon we are eight games undefeated now and that speaks volumes for what we are trying to do here at BAT - things feel really good.

"Last season we were called 'The Brat Pack' and this year we've been dubbed as 'Dad's Army' but all I know is that we are a pleasure to watch at the moment," chuckled Leader.

A Glen Maidment free-kick was headed in off the underside of the crossbar by Boere after 20 minutes and their second came courtesy of Platt with a superb solo run and finish in the second half.

After just 12 league matches, Hamble ASSC are only one point shy of last season's paltry 16-point haul following another impressive victory - a 2-1 verdict at Brockenhurst.

"I believe that games are won in the changing room," said Hamble manager Larry Clay. "And our changing room is absolutely buzzing with players who want to play and work hard for this club - it makes my job very easy at the moment as I only have to read out 11 names each week.

"There's a tremendous atmosphere here and you just can't buy that," he added.

Two first-half defensive errors from the home side were both punished by Jamie Musselwhite and Jamie Hill as the Planemakers took a 2-0 lead before the Badgers' replied through Andy Culliford just before the break.

Downton clambered away from the bottom of the pile with a surprise 2-1 victory over Moneyfields at Wick Lane - only their second success of the season.

Russell James netted the Robins' first goal after six minutes and then a Brian White free-kick was headed down by Mark Savage for Neil Archer to hit the target on 55 minutes.

Although Moneyfields pulled a goal back after 70 minutes, Downton held on for a priceless win. Manager Mitch Blake said: "We've played really well again - but this time we've held on for the result.

"Success to us is staying in the Wessex League. Our under-14 side are unbeaten at present and they are the future of this club. We still need to be in this league when we bring these players through in future years."

A young Andover side also recorded a 2-1 home victory against Bemerton HH to please their manager, Howard Goddard.

"We've played well again today and I thought that it was only a matter of time before we took our cup form into the league," he said.

"The disappointment was that, having got 2-0 up, we missed at least three good chances in the second half and ended up hanging on a bit towards the end after they scored in the last ten minutes."

Vince Rusher, who returned to Andover from Eastleigh in midweek, took just five minutes to re-open his goal account when he beat two defenders before firing the Lions ahead.

Right on half-time, Justin Bennett raced onto a long through ball and despatched it through the 'keeper's legs for his 11th goal of the season before Bemerton 'keeper Colin Hopkins sprinted the length of the pitch to convert Harlequins' 80th-minute penalty.

A Paul Rideout strike midway through the second half secured Christchurch an impressive 1-0 win at The Cuthbury against Wimborne.

Joint boss Nigel Cripps said: "It was a well-deserved victory. We are a good young side whose average age is only about 21 and slowly but surely it's coming together - it looks very good for the future."

Thatcham assistant manager Kevin Rowe watched in disbelief as his side tossed away a 2-0 lead in the final 15 minutes of an amazing 3-2 home defeat at the hands of Bournemouth Poppies.

"The players have let me down today and I'm shocked and disgusted with them," fumed Rowe, who was standing in for Neil Baker who is currently on holiday in Greece.

"We were 2-0 up and coasting when the back four suddenly switched off, they didn't play and totally lost the plot. One minute I'm thinking of taking defenders off to give them some rest for Tuesday and the next I'm throwing on a striker to try and salvage a point," stormed Rowe.

Two-goal Sean Cook had seemingly put Thatcham in control until Steve Collins (pen), James Antell and Steve Miles struck for Poppies.