Three goals in the first 15 minutes helped Romsey to a shock 5-3 win over promotion chasing Wimborne Wayfarers.

It is a result which gives the Abbeymen renewed confidence in their bid to claw away from the Hampshire/Surrey Regional Division 2 drop zone.

It took their points tally to 13 – just three shy of City of Portsmouth.

Southampton University, gunned down 9-1 by the Honourable Artillery Company, appear doomed, while the Bank of England and Fareham III, who lie immediately above Romsey, drew 2-2.

Romsey could hardly have wished for a better start at Queen Elizabeth School, with Joe Welch’s short corner drag flicks complementing an early Ben Mullan goal to create a 3-0 lead.

It remained that way until shortly before half-time, either side of which Todd Clark twice converted set-pieces of his own to put Wayfarers back in the contest .

But Romsey’s good start wasn’t to be wasted as Lewis Birch latched on to a pass by Jack Forrest-Charde to restore the visitors’ two-goal advantage.

Wimborne refused to lie down either and trimmed Romsey’s lead to 4-3 with a Sam Butterfield strike.

But Romsey weren’t to be denied as Welch completed his maiden Regional Division hat-trick with another screaming drag flick.

Romsey’s attention will now focus on Saturday’s 3pm visit to Fareham III, whose fledgling side pulled off another fine result by holding fourth-placed Bank of England 2-2 in their plush Roehampton surrounds.

Unbeaten in five matches now, Fareham wiped out an early Bank raid to lead 2-1 at the break through a Harry Lemon brace, only be to pegged back.