BOSS Graham Kemp admitted it had been a “bad day all round” as 10-man Christchurch lost ground on the Wessex Premier leaders.

Priory slumped to a 2-1 home defeat to AFC Portchester, while defender Ross Lloyd saw red after half-an-hour.

Craig Hardy opened the scoring for the visitors on the stroke of half-time.

Kemp’s charges equalised through Sam Griffin but, despite dominating the second half, Christchurch fell to substitute Jay Ripiner’s goal five minutes from time.

The result left the Hurn Bridge outfit five points behind leaders Alresford.

Kemp said: “It was one of those days where it was never going to fall for us but I can’t fault the lads’ effort and commitment.”

Priory: Frampton, Thompson, Magookin, Legg, Lloyd, Yelland, Smith, Griffin, Osborne, Cook (Burden, h-t), Cornick. Unused subs: Cullen, Dand, Crutchley, Collins.

  • Connor Phillips’s solitary strike handed Poppies a 1-0 victory over Verwood Town at Victoria Park.

Hamworthy United were beaten 4-2 at Bemerton Heath Harlequins, while Dan Cox’s goal for New Milton Town was not enough as they returned to the foot of the table after a 3-1 home reverse against GE Hamble.

Poppies: Jones, Ayrton, Jackson, Corby, Clarke (Martinez, 69), Saadi, Lockyer, Phillipson-Masters, Joyce (Batuista, 85), Ward, Phillips. Unused subs: Turner, Vaughan.

Potters: Lynch, Burch (Jason Lovell, 83), Dyer, Gajic, Evans, Hall, Kelly, Murray, Satterley, Saxby, Webb (Hill, 75). Unused subs: R Long, J Long, Jack Lovell.

Hammers: Knights, Ayling (Head, 85), Hester, Carlile, Horlock, Lanahan, Murray (Bradley, 60), Penny, Shovelton (Pekun, 75), Sturgess, Wyatt.

Linnets: Hannides, Barge (Donaldson, 74), Cox, Curtis, De’ath, Egerton, Embree, Holloway (Thomson, 74), Proctor, Whitcher (Sampays, 85), Roberts. Unused subs: Hooker, Blackburn.

  • In Wessex One, Ringwood Town thrashed basement boys Hythe & Dibden 5-0.

Jake Swift’s own goal set the ball rolling before Elliot Peck, Lee Bellows and substitute Ben Hatch’s double completed the rout.