Fareham open up a three-point lead at the top of the Wessex Premier – and AFC Portchester win again too

An eighth minute Ronan Galloway goal saw the Reds leading at the break.

Goals from Calum Benfield and substitute Simon Woods made sure the visitors extended their winning streak to six league games.

It is the club’s best league run since manager Pete Stiles took charge midway through the 2016/17 campaign.

Stiles missed the latest victory, though, as he was finishing a two-game stadium ban.

AFC Portchester chalked up a third successive Premier Division win with a hard-fought 2-0 success against Hamble Club at The Crest Finance Stadium.

A goal in each half from Craig Harding and Craig Hardy earned the Royals their latest success and maintained their 100 per cent home league record in 2020/21.

Boss Mick Catlin felt it was a pleasing performance.

'We played well, though they made us work hard at times,' he said.

'The first half was pretty even and they put us under a bit of pressure from set-pieces.

'We had to defend well to keep them out.

'In the second half we changed things a bit tactically and I thought we were the better side.

'Our second goal took the pressure off in the closing stages and we achieved our third clean sheet in a row.'

Harding gave the Royals a sixth minute lead, calmly converting after Lee Wort headed down to him in the area.

After the break home goalkeeper Brad Snelling pulled off a great reaction save to ensure his side stayed ahead.

Four minutes from time Hardy put the game to bed with a free header from a set-piece.