Basingstoke Royals remain top of the Premier Division following their 4-1 away win against Bramley United.

The referee cried off through illness so the Bramley manager Andy Lear had to take the whistle, most unsatisfactory as there was two matches called off in the morning. They took a 25th minute lead when a shot from Scott Harvey was parried and James McIntosh followed up to net and a close range shot from Ashley Taylor made it 2-0 at half time. Five minutes after the restart Royals made it 3-0 through Nick Wilcock and he then scored his second on the hour. Bramley kept battling away on the heavy pitch and were rewarded a minute from time when Sam Cato beat keeper Richard Munday. It was a close affair at Sherborne Road where two of the challenger Rising Sun DC and Hook met and it ended in a 4-4 draw, with both teams ending with ten men after sends offs. Mark Beagley returned to the Hook lineup after a lengthy absence and he headed them into a 5th minute lead after keeper Craig Atkinsonl half saved from Andy Parker. Ben Nicholls put away a free kick to level, but Beagley took a pass from Parker to restore the lead. Risings Sun came again to level through Richard Kalwarczyk, but soon after this both Sam Nicholls (Rising Sun) and Dave Rees (Hook) received straight red cards following a confrontation. Ben Nicholls then made it 3-2, but it did not last as Parker was brought down in the box and Aaron King netted from the spot kick to level again and as Hook pressed Jon Noakes went on a solo run and finished well. Rising Sun were not finished, for substitute Damian Smith came up with the late equalizer. The Welly Old Boys v Sherborne St John was postponed as the Newfound pitch was ruled unfit by the Parish Council on Friday.

Overton United A opens up a five point gap at the top of Division One after beating Hook Reserves 3-1 at home. They found themselves a goal down after 20 minutes from Jack McKee. It took Danny Smith’s side five minutes to level when a corner by John Gurney fell to Lee Corson who put the chance away. It remained level until into the second half when Siyanni Thomas took advantage after a shot by John Sayers was mishandled and it was Sayers with the third when he lobbed the keeper following a pass from Jesse Todd.

With Bounty United losing, it is Basingstoke Athletic back on top of Division Two following their 5-1 away win against Herriard Sports. They took a two minute lead when Dale Bristow put away a corner by Barry Pullen, but Herriard were always in the game and Martin Miles hit the bar before in the 40th minute Tobie Hyde went on a good solo run and his pass ended with Husan Alkarnaz making it 2-0 at the interval. Dave Trevelion made it three in the 53rd, but Herriard struck back when Miles netted after his firs shot was well saved by keeper Sean Martin. .Matt Button went past three men to put Athletic 4-1 ahead, but Herriard were unlucky when twice Stuart Minton hit the post. Athletic soon regained control and their fifth was scored by James Louton after good play by Trevelion. Bounty United had only been defeated once in the league this season, back in September when Overton United B won 7-4. At a recent Saturday Section Meeting Overton were found guilty of playing an ineligible player in the game and they have been ordered to replay the game. On Saturday Bounty faced the rejuvenated Basingstoke Labour Club and suffered a 4-1 surprise defeat and so slips down into second spot in the table. Matt Kelly gave Labour a 24th minute lead from a penalty kick, given after James Dovey committed a foul in the box. Matt Love had a great chance level but shot straight at the keeper as it remained 1-0 at the break. Labour came out strong for the second half and went two up in the 53rd through Cameron George, but Bounty at last improved and Jordon Willis broke free to reduce the arrears. Bounty conceded again when Mike Hill netted after a Kelly header had rebounded off the post and then on came veteran substitute Martin Willows to add to their score and sew up the game and so move to level points with their opponents. There is no doubt the recent signing of Barney Powell, the former New Inn defender, had added strength at the back for Dan Poulter’s side. Winklebury Wizards remain unbeaten in the league following a tight 4-3 win over visiting Overton United B. Hugo Carlos gave them a 6th minute lead after controlling a pass from Josh Dickens and side footing home. Overton hit back strongly with Dave Pyle scoring twice before Scotty Winterbourne took a pass from Ryan watts to level. It was Overton going in at the interval 3-2 up after Matt Bonner headed home a free kick. Into the second half and Wizards improved as Carlos curled in a free kick in the 55th and then eight minutes from time a breakaway by Alex Stevens led to Daniel Goodyear scoring the winner. It was three wins in a row for AFC Aldermaston A after beating Sherborne St John Reserves 2-1 and it has shot them out of the relegation area into a challenging position. Recent signing Liam Belcher was on target again to see Aldermaston in front after 37 minute. A long throw from Dave Purt fell nicely for James Price to loop the ball over the keepers head to level, but the decider came with five minutes left when a low hard free kick twenty yards out from Tony Johnson proved too good for the keeper. The poor season for AFC Berg continued as they were well beaten 4-0 by Basingstoke United. James Lucas opened the scoring when his shot went through keeper Simon Edwards’s legs. It remained at 1-0 until the 70th minute when Ash Pearce came on as substitute. He headed the second from a Ryan Bennett cross, he then headed his second from a Tom Hartley centre and after seeing his penalty kick saved by Edwards, he completed his straight hat trick five minutes from time when put through by Gavin Harkness.