PIRELLI GENERAL and Poole Town both made ground in the Hampshire League Premier Division title race as nearest rivals Stockbridge and Alton Town shed points on Saturday.

Hythe & Dibden produced one of their best performances of the season to peg Alton 2-2 at Jones Lane.

Phil Swainston was twice on target for the Watersiders.

But each time Alton fought back to equalise.

Firstly they levelled through Adam Strudwick then Glen McDonald, just seconds after Swainston had knocked in his second.

Former Bashley defender Dave Byrom had a solid debut at centre-half for Hythe.

While Stockbridge player-manager Barry Andrews was taking a weekend family break, his team tripped up 1-1 at home to Ringwood.

Pirelli stayed four points clear of the pack with a 3-0 win at Esso Fawley where their centre-half Glen Hancock netted two headers from first-half corners.

Steve Trott added another goal after the break.

Poole bounced back from a 3-2 midweek defeat at Alton with Simon Flanz and Richard Glennister steering them home 2-0 against plucky Aldermaston at Bournemouth's Victoria Park.

Vosper Thornycroft, with games in hand over Pirelli, still have the best playing record in the division.

John Romero, Andy Pattinson (penalty) and Andy Turner gave them a 3-0 victory over New Street, who played some neat football without the cutting edge.

Locks Heath slipped to their second defeat in three games after taking the lead through an Ian Stocks' penalty.

Amesbury equalised straight from the kick off and then went on to win 2-1.

Division 1 leaders Winchester Castle suffered a rare defeat, going down 2-1 to Paulsgrove.

Castle co-boss Brian French admitted that his team failed to compete fully with Paulsgrove.

He said: "Paulsgrove were physically stronger and more commited than we were."

The Portsmouth side were two up before Paul Warren missed a penalty, and Dave Motteane pulled a late goal back for Castle.

AC Delco, who are disbanding at the end of the season following the sale of their Stoneham headquarters to former manager Dave Mollicone and business partner Steve Harvey (full story in next Saturday's Pink), lost out 2-1 to Tadley who had two sent off in the first half.

A Christian Hewitt goal couldn't mask a wretched Delco display.

Brothers Matt and Russ Higgins marked their recent arrival at Laverstock & Ford with three of the goals which eased the Division 3 leaders to a 5-0 win over Compton.

Two-goal Mark Hambridge helped nudge Netley Central Sports to a four-goal derby win over Bishopstoke.

Tom Falconer and Paul Stamp got the others for Netley's whose reserves won their first game of the season, 3-1 at Inmar.

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