NEW Fareham Town boss Pete Stiles made an instant impact tonight.
The former AFC Portchester man guided the Creeksiders to a 3-1 league win at Amesbury Town to hoist them off the foot of the Sydenhams Premier Division.
Town fell behind to a second-minute penalty by Tyler Brockway, who then hit the bar, but the visitors hit back through Curt Robbins, Jay Ripiner and Simon Woods.
The win lifts Fareham four places into 18th, plonking Verwood back to the bottom of the pile.
Laverstock & Ford missed the chance to break back into the Sydenhams One top-two by losing 1-0 at Downton. Former Salisbury striker Declan McGregor scored the early goal.
Sydenhams Premier pair AFC Portchester and Bemerton Heath Harlequins are through to the Russell Cotes Cup semi-finals.
Bemerton triumphed 1-0 at Fleet Town courtesy of Scott Joyce's decider, while Portchester also overcame Southern League opposition, winning 2-1 against Petersfield Town courtesy of Alex Baldacchino and ex-Ram Andy Todd.
AFC Stoneham steamrollered an Aldershot Town XI 5-0 in the RCC second round and will now visit holders Gosport Borough in the quarter-finals.
Hat-trick hero Jack Brady was the star of the Stoneham show, backed by Duncan Bray and Ollie Forbes.
Results –
Sydenhams Premier Division: Amesbury 1 Fareham Town 3.
Sydenhams Division One: Downton 1 Laverstock & Ford 0.
Russell Cotes Cup
Second round: AFC Stoneham 5 Aldershot Town XI 0.
Quarter-finals: AFC Portchester 2 Petersfield Town 1, Fleet Town 0 Bemerton HH 1, Moneyfields v Liss Athletic pp.
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