CHAMPIONS and current league leaders Lymington & NM maintained their 100 per cent start to the season as a second-half penalty from Leigh Phillips sealed a crucial 1-0 win over Newbury at Faraday Road.

"The game was scrappy but we came away from it with a vital three points," said Linnets manager Derek Binns. "It's these sort of games you need to win. The whole team did well."

Andover followed up Tuesday 's 12-0 thrashing of Portsmouth RN by making it 20 goals in their last two league outings with an 8-0 annihilation of bot-tom club Hamble.

Andy Forbes helped himself to a hat-trick, backed up by Jason Bristow, Mark Fox, Stuart Barfoot, Leroy Whale and Milan Pardue.

The margin of the win was the Lions' biggest away win in their history.

Cowes remain in second spot after a convincing 4-1 win at Portsmouth RN, Adam Barsdell netting a brace - ably assisted by Steve Munford and an own goal from Gary Barnes.

The season's surprise package BAT are in third thanks to a 3-0 triumph at Privett Park over Gosport, Lee Hodder, Peter Hart and Simon Elliott on target.

Close behind in fourth are Eastleigh, two Craig McAllister efforts enough to see off Thatcham 2-0 at Waterside Park.

Moneyfields inflicted a second con-secutive defeat on Alex Pike's Wimborne 3-2 in front of a bumper 205 crowd at the Cuthbury. Strikes from James Butlin, Matthew Smith and Neil Darnley cancelling out Guy Dipper and Darren Elmes.

Fareham hit six of the best, winning 6-1 at Whitchurch. Paul Reed notched a treble with Stuart Carpenter, Darren Clark and Perry Holland completing the rout, Tony Leslie replying.

A Steve Jones brace - one a penalty - wasn't enough to earn three points for Totton as Bemerton hit back through Craig Goddard and Keith Richardson to earn a 2-2 draw at Western Way.

Christchurch continued their promising start to the season in both league and cup, winning 4-1 at East Cowes - Justin Keeler, Adie Butler, Steve Collins and Matt Town netting for the Priory, Liam Gearing for Vics.

Goals from Jason Ahmet and Marc Burrows earned Brockenhurst a 2-0 win over Downton at Grigg Lane.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.