Fareham thrashed City of Portsmouth 5-1 to move into joint top spot in the South Premier Hockey League.

It was Fareham's fourth successive win - a sequence of victories that has lifted them alongside undefeated Wimbledon at the top.

Both clubs have 20 points from ten matches - two more than Beckenham, who Fareham visit in a crunch game on Saturday.

But though they scored five times, Fareham were indebted to goalkeeper Mike Wright, who produced a series of fine saves in the early stages.

"We fell a goal behind from a penalty stroke - and had Steve King yellow-carded in the process," reflected Fareham coach, Steve Godwin.

"But for Mike's heroics, we could have been three down - and out of the game."

Two fine goals by Jim Moseley - the second a superb strike from the edge of the circle - before half-time gave Fareham a 2-1 advantage and turned the game around.

City of Portsmouth's fading hopes effectively disappeared with early second-half goals by Steve King and Martin Fripp.

Scott Shirley scored a fifth in injury time after a break from the half-way line.

Southampton shared a 2-2 draw with Blandford, despite taking the lead through Rhobet Williams on the quarter-hour.

However Blandford hit back with two goals either side of half-time, and it took a second Williams' strike to draw level. Southampton could have won the game on the stroke of full-time, but a short corner goal was disallowed.

Southampton ladies first team shared a goalless draw with Dulwich, despite dominating the first half.

They should have wrapped up the game when they were awarded a penalty for an illegal stop on the goalline. However Fiona Jarman's low stroke to the corner was deflected aside by the diving goalkeeper.