Winchester strengthened their grip on the Hampshire/Surrey Regional Division 1 championship race with a Kent Langridge inspired 5-0 win over relegation haunted Southampton, who plunged to an eighth successive defeat.

Langridge led the way with a hat-trick to take his personal tally for the season to 21 goals.

With second placed Woking held 2-2 by Basingstoke, Winchester take an eight point lead into Saturday’s home game with Bournemouth at Kings’, 1.30pm.

Southampton had barely touched the ball as Winchester bore down on them from the push back, winning a penalty corner which was beautifully despatched by Langridge from Mark Maunsell’s left slip.

Scott Rawlings and Stuart Swift both narrowly missed the target from good chances and then Southampton were indebted to the right post defender, who twice in quick succession cleared off the line at penalty corners.

Winchester’s second came after 25 minutes, when Martin Harris drove through the centre of the Southampton defence, seemingly losing control, but then poking the ball past defenders.

His last touch was a good one, finding Dan Hayden at the far post, who beat Toby Rigby in the Southampton goal.

A third goal was added by Langridge just before the break, converting from a narrow angle after concerted Winchester pressure.

It was not all Winchester, and Southampton came out of the traps at full pelt in the second half and twice in a minute, Rory McCallum was called into action.

These proved his only actions of the game as Southampton’s frequent counters were dealt with comfortably by the calm central defensive pairing of Kevin Boniface and Chris Jackson.

From their interceptions, Winchester gained their best opportunities as they had drawn out the packed defence of Southampton and created chances down the right side with Langridge and Craig Jeffrey taking it in turns to cut into the D and cause mayhem.

However, a combination of good Southampton defending and accuracy of the final ball, meant that none of the final two goals came directly from that route.

Just after Maunsell and Adam Tollefson interchanged passes at the top of the D, with the latter forcing a good save from Rigby, Tollefson won the ball powerfully and found Maunsell who shot inches wide, but the ball diverted off a defender and went in at the post.

Winchester’s fifth and final goal came from another penalty corner when Jackson’s direct shot was parried, but Langridge was on hand to stroke home for his hat-trick and his 21st league goal of the season. Despite the scoreline, Southampton coach Paul Meacher was far from downhearted “There was a great deal of courage, application and team work which we will need to demonstrate for the rest of the season,” he said.

“Having conceded after two minutes from a penalty corner, all the good pre-match discussions could have been thrown in the bin, but the lads were not put off and dug in to really frustrate a very strong and attack minded Winchester.

“We were even able to cause them real concern on the break, and with a bit more precision in front of goal we could have made it really interesting.”