Justin nets four more as US lose top spot

US Portsmouth were dumped off the top of Wessex League Division One at the weekend.

Glenn Turnbull’s men were without a game as scheduled opponents Pewsey Vale withdrew from the league last month.

That inactivity enabled Alton to move two points clear, though US have a game in hand, courtesy of a 3-0 home win over Whitchurch.

Goals from Scott Sanderson, Luke Perkins and Phil Moore (penalty) gave Alton a sixth successive league win - a run which started with a 2-1 win over US Portsmouth when Alton scored twice in the last three minutes.

The top six clubs in Wessex League Division One are separated by just for points, so goal difference could well be crucial come the end of the season.

At present, sixth-placed Bemerton Heath have the best record - a plus 34-goal difference - following an 8-0 hammering of rockbottom Folland Sports.

Goal machine Justin Bennett, above, took his seasonal tally to a remarkable 39 - from just 22 starts - with four more for the Salisburybased Harlequins.

That was the Gosport Borough legend’s sixth Wessex League hat-trick of the season, and took his Division One tally to 24 goals in just 16 appearances.

Bennett’s haul is 10 more than the next best, by Verwood’s Lee Vint, with US Portsmouth’s James Franklyn and Connor Kelly of Newport IoW both having 13 league goals to their name.

Elsewhere in Division One, Petersfield drew 1-1 against Laverstock & Ford at Love Lane. Jordan Neal put the Rams in front on 63 minutes but the hosts were pegged back by a late penalty.

It was a good comeback by the visitors considering they had a player sent off inside the opening 15 minutes.

Two goals from Dan Sibley enabled US Portsmouth reserves to maintain their slender advantage at the top of the Wyvern Combination East Division.

His brace gave US a 2-2 home draw against secondplaced Tadley Calleva.

That kept them top by virtue of having scored just one more goal.