THIS time last week Totton & Eling chairman/co-boss Andy Tipp rated Christchurch as favourites to escape Sydenhams Premier relegation.

But after Fareham Town’s incredible 6- 1 win over Hamworthy United on Saturday, he has changed his mind.

Should Fareham win their game in hand at home to Newport IoW this evening, that would give them the edge in the tense three-way battle to beat the drop.

Totton & Eling did all they possibly could on Saturday, beating Verwood Town 2-1 at Miller Park.

But while news of Christchurch’s 6-1 defeat to Petersfield will have been music to the Millers’ ears, the Fareham result left them reeling.

“I couldn’t believe it!” said a gobsmacked Tipp.

“Hamworthy were in such good form.

"They whipped us here 3-0 the other week and I thought they were one of the best sides I’d seen in a long time.

“I just hope Newport don’t do the same tonight.

“I thought Fareham were dead and buried, but they’ll be full of confidence after winning 6-1 and they’ve got a real opportunity now.

“At least Petersfield went with the form book and beat Christchurch and I really can’t see them (Christchurch) getting anything out of Winchester on Saturday.”

Leading by a Jamie Feasey header against Verwood, T&E were pegged back by a hotly disputed Taffy Richardson equaliser scored while Millers’ teenager Keenan New was floored with blood gushing from his nose.

But if they felt hard done over that, it was balanced out by a soft penalty award which Chris Marwood gleefully capitalised on in stoppage time.

“I was in the dressing room because I’d had enough by then, so I didn’t even see the penalty incident, but people were telling me they didn’t know what it was given for,” said Tipp.

“It was good to have a bit of luck for a change but, typically, it was followed by the bad luck of Fareham winning 6-1!

“I might go down to Fareham tonight. I know the Newport manager (Steve Brougham) well, he’s a good bloke and I know he’ll put out as strong a team out as he can.”

Fareham still carry the weight of the entire Sydenhams Premier Division on their shoulders, but that could all change over the next five days if they beat Newport IoW at home this evening (7.45pm) and Andover Town at The Portway on Saturday.

Hailing the Hamworthy hammering “a terrific win”, Fareham boss Matt Parr said: “We still have a lot of work to do, but if we win our last two games we stay up. It will be a remarkable achievement if we can pull it off.”