STOCKBRIDGE saved their best 'til last with last Saturday morning's 6-2 away win against Portsmouth RN in their final Hants Premier Division game of the season.

With the game kicking-off at 12 noon, John Hewitt led the way with a sparkling hat-trick and the other goals came from Paul Sanders (2) and Tristan Burton.

'Bridge boss Barry Andrews was delighted with his side's showing in a game in which 16 players on the pitch were aged under 20.

"It's the best we've played for a long time," said Andrews. "We did well at Aldermaston recently but I wasn't at that game and Paul Sanders and John Hewitt were on fire up front, all the youngsters did superbly, especially Karl Williams at the back, there's definitely something about him."

Hewitt's hat-trick was his first for the village club who were missing a number of regulars players, with Sean Sanders and Stuart Thomson at the cup final, Mark Butcher and Simon Poultney were both injured whilst Colin Vince and Dave Allen were both working.

It was 'Bridge's 15th league win of the season and they finished in a mid-table berth in the final league table. "We used 28 players this season compared to just 16 last year, but things don't look too bad for the future as we've got some good youngsters coming through," said Andrews.

Stockbridge (4-4-2): Davis; Barnard, Williams, Savage, Burton; Burgess, Evans, Nicholl, Holman; Paul Sanders, Hewitt. Subs: Curran (for Nicholl 50 mins), Andrews (for Burgess 75 mins), Poultney (for Evans 75 mins).

lStockbridge Res have won the NHL Supplementary League, with Ludgershall Sports having to settle for runners-up again after losing their final game 4-1 away to RS Basingstoke Res last Saturday.

Ludgershall, also runners-up to NHL champions Southampton Arms, needed at least a point to overhaul Phil Leeson's Stockbridge side but it proved to be one game too many for Andy Hounslow's Ludgershall tea, with their conconsolation coming from an own goal.

lIn the final of the Andover Open Cup, King's Somborne crashed 5-1 to county league rivals Winchester City at Foxcotte Park on Tuesday night but the final score line flattered the winners.

Terry Harfield's second division side had their chances and there was little between the teams in the first half, with Liam Maddigan's well taken goal bringing Somborne back into the game to cancel out City's headed opening goal after seven minutes. Charlie Spencer twice went close for Somborne but City regained the lead two minutes before the break through an own goal from Simon Elsey.

Somborne player-manager Harfield missed two good chances for his side but City went further ahead five minutes after the changeover with a third goal from a corner.

They added a fourth with just over an hour gone and the fifth came two minutes from the end, with Somborne still gamely pushing forward at the finish.