ALRESFORD Town find themselves in the unfamiliar territory of bottom spot after Saturday’s 3-0 Sydenhams Premier Division defeat at Hamble Club.

The injury-hit Magpies have yet to pick up a point and manager Richard Luffman admitted: “It’s been a tough start, but there is only one way we can go.

“I’m not hiding. We are aware of the situation. We will get better. I make no excuses.”

Alresford missed several chances - including a penalty - when they had a spell on top in the first half.

But Hamble ultimately ran out worthy winners with goals from Doug Rowe, Coby Wilson and Marlon Mason.

The Monks were delighted to give a debut to Louis Lemesurier, who had a hand in the second goal.

Lemesurier was playing in the Southampton Premier last season, along with sub Ryan Wilkins who finished Saturday’s game for Hamble.

Hamble Club travel to Ringwood Town in the Hampshire FA Senior Cup tomorrow evening, while Alresford head to Baffins Milton Rovers for their first-round tie.

BAFFINS are seventh in the Sydenhams Premier after brushing aside Cowes Sports 4-1 at the PMC Stadium.

Tommy Leigh’s strike from the edge of the area was doubled by Jason Parrish’s header before Shane Cornish smashed home a free-kick for 3-0.

Cowes briefly came into it with a Tyler Yates own goal, but Joe McLean restored Baffins’ three-goal advantage.

RIAN Drake hit a 90th-minute cracker to rescue Bashley a Sydenhams Premier Division point with a 1-1 draw at Bemerton Heath Harlequins.

With a minute to go, the Foresters’ goalkeeper Jason Collins moved forward to take a free kick just short of the halfway line.

His high delivery into the crowded area was half cleared by the Harlequins, only to be met and volleyed in from 20 yards by the lurking Drake.

The quality of that shot was a far cry from Bashley’s first-half performance which the Foresters themselves described as “numbingly indifferent.”

The Harlequins were marginally better and led on 28 minutes through Jack Slade at Moon Park.

Bashley were a different proposition after the break, however. The introduction of substitutes Nasim Meddah, on the left, and Jack Smith, on the right, opened up the game.

Bash tomorrow (Tuesday, 7.45pm) entertain Bournemouth Poppies in the Hampshire FA Senior Cup.

BOURNEMOUTH Poppies have had a pleasing start to the new league campaign, picking up a useful haul of seven points out of nine.

On Saturday they shared a goal feast at Team Solent, eventually running out 4-3 winners in a thrilling game at Test Park.

Steve Flynn stole the show for the visitors with a hat-trick, backed by a long-range cracker from Ron Frost.

Hisham Kasimu sandwiched two Team Solent goals around one from young Brandon Eaton - his first senior goal for the Students.

Eaton was unlucky not to get another but hit the crossbar early in the second half with Poppies leading 3-2.

Kasimu’s second of the afternoon did bring it back to 3-3, but the Poppies had the last word when aerial threat Flynn crowned his hattrick by heading home a free-kick.