Portsmouth 4ths hit another Hampshire League Division 8 rival for six to maintain position at the top

They followed up a 6-0 win at Alton with a copycat result at home to rock bottom Wimborne Wayfarers.

John Arnell took his tally to five in those two victories with a brace against the Wiltshire club, while Peter Wingate and Alan Ball also struck twice.

Alistair Thompson won the man of the match award for his excellent work in defence.

Portsmouth are just two points ahead of city rivals US Portsmouth 2nds - the only team to beat them so far - following USP’s 4-1 win against Isle of Wight 2nds.

With the 1st XI’s game postponed due to a frozen pitch, a strengthened 2nds were feeling optimistic against Swanage and Wareham.

Even more so when the Dorset club turned up at Furze Lane with a bare 11 players.

But a late short corner gave Swanage a 3-3 draw.

After the visitors went ahead, Portsmouth led at the break through Ben Hayward and Ivan Boswell.

That advantage was quickly cancelled out in the second half before Danny Brettell rifled a shot into the bottom corner to give Portsmouth the lead again.

Man of the match was awarded to Jack Boswell.

Man of the match James Payne struck twice as the 3rds lost 4-2 at Aldershot & Farnham - all the goals coming in the first half.

Tim Schofield and John Pratt also scored braces as Portsmouth Vets defeated Andover 4-2.

The city club had to overcome an early injury when Andy Beach suffered a pulled hamstring inside the first minute.

Man of the match Chris Butler and Mark Taylor formed a very effective partnership in the centre of the defence and regularly frustrated the Andover forwards.

Butler was also instrumental in the link-up play and on a rare foray forward found Pratt who opened the scoring.

Schofield doubled the lead and, although Andover pulled one back, the unmarked Pratt scored after receiving the ball due to Pete Rayner's air shot (which he obviously claimed was a deliberate miss).

Showing superior fitness and teamwork, Portsmouth - Andy Thorne and Mark Wheeler in particular - continued to pour forward, culminating in Schofield’s second goal of the afternoon.

Portsmouth under-16s defeated their Basingstoke counterparts 3-0 with goals from Dan Hayward, Jack Boswell and Ryan Rochester.

Goalkeeper Jack Hargreaves - on his birthday - kept a clean sheet with able support in defence from Jack Burn and two good clearances from Josh Boucher.

Portsmouth, who started with 10 players, played the last 5 minutes with just nine after Rudi Lambert suffered a cut above the eye. But it was during that period that Rochester struck.