GOSPORT Borough’s dynamic duo of Justin Bennett and Matt Paterson were on target yet again in Saturday’s 2-0 win over struggling Bishop’s Stortford.

It was the first victory in four league games for Alex Pike’s men, taking them to within a point of the Vanarama Conference South play-off zone.

Pike handed a debut to ex-Saint Andy Robinson, a recent signing from Dorchester Town, and watched his side forge ahead when Bennett netted his 28th goal of the season after Paterson’s initial effort had been pushed away.

Borough keeper Nathan Ashmore played his part in victory, saving a second-half Frankie Merrifield penalty after another former St Mary’s lad Tom Dunford had brought down Ashley Miller.

Gosport came again and made the game safe with 15 minutes remaining when Rory Williams picked out another ex-Saint Paterson, who brought the ball down and hammered it into the far corner.

The home side almost got a third, but Bennett’s 30-yard effort struck the bar.

Borough lurk a point behind Basingstoke Town who, despite taking the lead through ex-Eastleigh man Shaun McAuley, were undone by an Antony Cook double in a 2-1 home defeat by second-placed Bromley.

Havant & Waterlooville sit third after a 2-2 home draw with Paul Doswell’s Sutton United.

The Hawks did it the hard way, conceding two Dan Fitchett goals before having Nic Ciardini sent off for an alleged elbow on Sutton’s former Eastleigh skipper Glen Southam.

But the ten men rallied with a Scott Donnelly penalty, awarded after Brian Stock had been brought down, and a superb JJ Hooper leveller.

Meanwhile Poole Town powered back to the Southern Premier summit with a 4-0 win at Slough – Marvin Brooks, Harrison Gilkes, Steve Devlin (pen) and Luke Burbidge scoring.