WHAT a weekend for Poole Town!
On Friday, their Tatnum Ground home was passed by the League's ground grading committee for Division 1 football next season and, 24 hours later, the Dolphins clinched promotion.
Poole's 2-1 victory at Liss Athletic, coupled with Locks Heath's 1-1 draw at Petersfield, means that Tommy Killick's team have followed Lymington Town up.
"It's been a fantastic couple of days for the club knowing that we are definitely going to be in Division 1 next season," said vice-chairman Chris Reeves. "However, the three points at Liss were the hardest we've earned."
A superbeffort by Gary Funnell, that saw him beat four defenders on a jinking run from his own half, gave Poole a 44th-minute lead.
Andy Neal levelled five minutes into the second half before Stuart Brown potted their winner on 70 minutes after the keeper had spilled a Peter Goodbody effort.
Strikes from two-goal Phil Stone and Scott Metcalfe kept Lymington clear at the summit with a 3-1 home win against Whitchurch United.
A superb 35-yard strike by Chris Iddles had pulled Whitchurch back on terms in the first half, while Town's Paul Sims planted a 65th-minute penalty against the upright.
A sweetly-struck 25-yard free-kick by Steve Thomas wasn't enough to maintain Locks Heath's faint promotion hopes as they drew 1-1 at Love Lane. Gavin Keogh had given Petersfield a first-half lead from the penalty spot.
Romsey Town goal-machine Simon De'Ath, right, hoisted his season's tally to 43 with another four-goal salvo as they defeated Bishop's Waltham 5-3 at the By-Pass Ground. All this after they had gifted the visitors a 2-0 lead. An own goal completed the Romsey nap hand.
But the Bishops stay out of the drop zone after Fawley and Aldermaston were both beaten away. Fawley were floored 5-1 at Shaftesbury while Aldermaston were pipped by a 25-yard effort from Lee Burch at Blackfield.
US Portsmouth are still not safe following their 2-1 demise at home to Stockbridge, while a Dean Cole brace gave Alresford the same winning margin at Hythe & Dibden, who replied through Ian Harvey.
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