John Bailey resolved to bravely battle on as Romsey Town manager after the once-proud Jewson Wessex League champions took another Hampshire League Division 1 battering on Saturday.

Town were savaged 8-1 by Clanfield at the Bypass Ground and former Andover and Fareham star Bailey admitted: "When I took the Romsey manager's job earlier in the season I knew it would be tough.

"But I didn't realise just how tough.

"We have six of seven college boys signed on but none of them were available for Saturday's game and it's now getting difficult to get anyone to come and play for a side who bottom of the table.

"But I'm not going to run away from this. I'm determined to see it out until the end of the season when we can hopefully bring some new players in."

One light on the horizon at Romsey is that former manager Trevor Holmes has returned to help out Bailey. "Trevor used to run Totton's youth side and he's found a few of their old players who are coming over to help us," said Bailey.

Two Premier Division sides going through a sticky patch right now are title hopefuls Vosper Thornycroft and Poole Town.

Vospers took Eastleigh to a penalty shoot-out in the Hampshire Senior Cup last week but manager Dave Diaper admitted: "It was a little bit like after the Lord Mayor's show" as they slumped 1-0 to Stockbridge.

It was Vospers second successive 1-0 defeat in the league and Diaper summed up "we were awful." Paul Sanders got the winning goal for Stocks after 75 minutes.

After two defeats on the bounce, Poole drew 1-1 at home with Brading. Chris Pratt headed Poole's 75th minute equaliser after Brading had capitalised on some sloppy defending to take the lead. Only a great save from the Brading keeper denied Matt White a late winner for Poole.

Ex-Stockbridge striker Jay Mann marked his Winchester City debut with a goal in a 4-0 victory over Aldermaston. City rested top scorer Stu Findlay, who is about to start a 35-day suspension, and still cruised home with Alan Bundy, Jon Vowles and Stu Lang getting their other goals.

It was a bitter-sweet day for Roy Viner as Esso beat Petersfield 3-0 at Holbury. Viner slotted home Esso's second goal from the penalty spot then collided with a Petersfield defender and broke his nose. Simon Davidson scored Esso's first after just 20 seconds and Darren Clarke got the third in the second-half after Petersfield had had a man sent off.

Richard Mealey took just a minute to score for Alton who went on to beat Amesbury 3-1 with Jamie Smith scoring the other two.

Steele Saunders marked his debut for Ordnance Survey with a hat-trick in their 4-0 win over Broughton in Division 2. Brothers Ian and Gary Calder were on target as Netley Central Sports beat Hadleigh 4-0. Mark Dyer and Justin Bartlett got the others.