Parish rescues a point for AFC Portchester as they lose ground in Wessex Premier title race

On a day when top two AFC Stoneham and Alresford both won at home, the Royals needed a late Jason Parish goal to salvage a 2-2 draw at Calthorpe Park.

Mick Catlin’s men - who had won their previous four league games - are now 10 points adrift of table-topping Stoneham but with three games in hand.

They are nine points adrift of second-placed Alresford, but have just two games in hand.

And, of even bigger concern, Christchurch are still only two points behind in fourth place but now have three games in hand after their weekend home clash with Tadley fell victim to the latest bout of rain.

The Royals enjoyed an interval lead at Fleet through Steve Ramsey’s 17th goal of the season, but paid the price for failing to convert other chances.

On 77 minutes the visitors gifted the hosts an equaliser with an underhit backpass and just four minutes fell behind.

Parish rescued the Royals with an equaliser seven minutes from the end - his 16th goal of 2019//20.

In a scrappy finish, both teams had players sent off with Ramsey receiving a straight red card.

'It is disappointing because I thought we did enough to win the game,' said Catlin.

'Leading at half-time we felt that we had done the hard work playing up the slope.

'Once Fleet equalised it got their tails up and we had to settle for a point.'

Portchester are on their travels again on Tuesday - at Bashley - as they look to put renewed pressure on the top two.

Alresford will move two points clear at the top, though, if they win at Baffins Milton on Wednesday night.

Hawks loanee Ollie Dennett maintained his superb run as the Magpies claimed a sixth win in seven league games at the weekend.

Former Gosport Borough player-boss Craig McAllister was also on target in a 2-1 home success against Bashley.

Dennett has now struck nine times in seven league games since moving from Westleigh Park on loan until the end of the season.

Scott Hills is now out on his own at the top of the Wessex top flight scoring charts following a two-goal burst in Stoneham’s 3-2 home win over Hamble Club.

Hills now has 20 league goals from 23 appearances - two more than Alresford’s Craig Harding.