Lymington & New Milton have been blown off the top of the Jewson Wessex League - quite literally !

They simply couldn't handle the howling wind and driving rain - or get the ball past Thatcham keeper Alan Mann - and sank to a shock 2-0 home defeat against the mid-table Berkshire visitors.

It cost the promotion-seeking Linnets top spot and provided Andover with an unexpected taste of league leadership - on goal difference.

Derek Binns's men threw everything at Thatcham - but either fluffed their chances or saw their efforts thwarted by Mann, who performed heroics in the Thatcham goal.

Twice Lymington were caught by sucker punches. Midway through the first half, teenager Jamie Green stole in to snatch the lead for Thatcham. It was the first JWL goal Lymington had conceded at Fawcett's Field this season.

Then, with 20 minutes remaining, Jon Norris converted Tommy McCormick's cross to complete Lymington's misery.

New leaders Andover sank Christchurch with three goals in 11 minutes late in the first-half at the Portway Stadium.

Lions won 3-1, with Vince Rusher opening the scoring on the half-hour. Andy Forbes notched his 11th goal of the season to give Andover a 2-0 advantage and Stuart Barfoot's effort, four minutes before the break, ended any faint hopes Christchurch had of saving the game. Stuart Green grabbed Priory's late consolation goal.

Bournemouth Poppies leapfrogged Blackfield & Langley near the foot of the table after second-half deciders from Dominic Taylor and James Bailey-Pearce sealed a 2-0 success at Gang Warily.

Taylor defied the horrendous conditions to squeeze a close-range shot through keeper Shane Wheeler's legs on 55 minutes and, after Carl Woodward had rattled the Watersiders' woodwork, Bailey-Pearce netted late on after Brian Mundee's effort had been pushed onto the post by Wheeler.

Whitchurch United and AFC Newbury appeared to have settled for a goal-less draw ... until Steve Noakes's dramatic 88th-minute own goal gave Whitchurch a 1-0 victory.

Steve Caswell's jinking run into the penalty area caused panic in the Newbury ranks - his cross-shot flying off Noakes for United's last-gasp winner.

AFC Totton and Moneyfields slugged out a 1-1 draw at Testwood Park, where Alex Totten's second-half equaliser earned a point.

Totton had been chasing the game since Steve Chandler's seventh-minute opener gave Moneyfield the lead.

Wimborne Town were 2-0 up against Portsmouth RN when the referee abandoned the match at The Cuthbury.

Officials also called a halt to Hamble's weather-beaten visit to Bemerton Heath Harlequins with the game goalless.

The matches at Cowes, Downton, and Gosport Borough were all postponed.