HAMBLE Club are the team to beat in the Sydenhams One championship chase.

The marvellous Monks sounded a warning to their title rivals with an 8-2 demolition job at Tadley Calleva on Saturday.

Dougie Rowe and Mike Byrne bagged a hat-trick apiece for Hamble, backed by singles from Murray Holmes and Danny Cox.

Tadley could only muster goals by Brett Denham and Scott Kinge in response, much to the disappointment of their manager Danny Dolan.

 Dolan tweeted: “Worst day of my football career but got to give credit to @HambleClubFC and wish them all the best in the Wessex Prem.”

Baffins Milton Rovers are up to second - two points behind Hamble having played three games more - after an impressive 5-0 romp at Fleet Spurs.

Ex-Blackfield & Langley man Bobby Scott – a former Saints Academy player - scored twice on his debut for Baffins.

Ryan Pennery also bagged a brace, taking his season’s tally to 38, and Tyler Moret joined the goal fest.

At the other end of the table there was a welcome win for Folland Sports who eclipsed New Milton Town 4-2.

Jamie Dover, Kaleem Haitham, Jake Peppel and sub Liam Nolan hit the Planemakers’ goals.

Seventeenth-placed Follands are four points clear of Hythe & Dibden (Rian Drake) who lost 2-1 at Alton (Callum Burch, Mitchell Parker).