Kevin Reacord got AFC Totton's title challenge back into gear with a lethal, late lob at Gosport Borough last night.

Ian Robinson's men have gone three points clear at the top again after passing a crucial test in character against one of their main rivals.

Defeat at Lymington & New Milton on Saturday had raised questions about Totton's Championship credentials.

They answered them with a timely 2-1 win at fourth-placed Gosport, which had assistant boss Richie Phippard enthusing: "We were excellent. The lads played their hearts out. We had to defend for long periods but we showed good character. Gosport battled hard but I think our desire to win was probably greater than theirs."

Totton went ahead in the opening minute from a Patrick James cross. Martin Whiddett claimed the last touch but there were suspicions of an own goal.

Graham Lindsey levelled with a 56th-minute header, but Borough were undone again ten minutes from time when keeper Mark Brown strayed a long way off his line and was coolly lobbed by Reacord.

"I still think the title's Andover's, but we've kept ourselves in it with that win," summed up Totton boss Ian Robinson.

Fifth-placed Moneyfields lost ground with a 1-0 loss at Wimborne.

With the half-hour mark approaching, Moneys' keeper Dean Wain injured his back making a fabulous save from Kevin Gill and was beaten by an Aaron Turner header from the resulting corner.

Wain had to be replaced in goal by Hampshire under-18 striker Steve Boston.

It was an unhappy night for AFC Newbury who had Geoff Neville and Dominic Green sent off for dissent in their 3-1 home defeat by Fareham Town.

Lloyd Mitchell and two-goal Floyd Hamoudu scored for Fareham, with Nigel Emsden giving Newbury brief hope at 2-1.

There was another red card at Bemerton where relegation battlers Downton were beaten 3-0.

The Harlequins played 65 minutes with ten men after having Brendon Summers dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Bemerton were already two up by then through Robbie Matthews and a Warren Kenna penalty and Matthews struck again for the ten men with nine minutes to go.

Hampshire's under-21s are through to the South West Counties Championship final.

They put the misery of a 6-0 thumping by Wiltshire behind them to punish The Army 4-0 at the Aldershot Military Stadium last night.

Kevin Brewster (Winchester City), Paul Beazley (Eastleigh) and Alex Perry (Newport IoW) forged a 3-0 half-time lead before Brewster bagged the goal of the game, cutting in from the right and curling a shot into the top corner.