AFC Stoneham 1, Alresford Town 3

THE race for the title in the Premier Division of the Wessex League took another dramatic twist on Saturday.

Having lost the league lead for the first time since August when Stoneham blitzed hapless Amesbury Town 9-0 last midweek, the Magpies roared back to the summit with a comprehensive 3-1 win on shellshocked Stoneham’s posh new 3G pitch.

Top scorer Craig Harding put the Magpies in front on 26 minutes with his 21st goal of the campaign before Duarte Martins scored his 14th of the season to double Alresford’s lead straight after half-time. And in-form Havant & Waterlooville loanee Ollie Dennett made the game safe with his tenth goal in eight games on 67 minutes to end Stoneham’s impressive 15-game unbeaten league run. Callum Laycock scored a consolation goal for the home side in stoppage time.

*Alresford’s Wessex League Cup quarter-final tie aginst Hamble at Arlebury Park on Tuesday night was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

The sides are due to meet in the league at Hamble tomorrow.