CHRISTCHURCH left it late to extend their long unbeaten run in Wessex One after netting twice in the final eight minutes to shatter Ringwood's brave resistance last night.

Max Wilcock settled in Priory's favour a pulsating derby at Long Lane when he popped up with a dramatic headed winner three minutes from time to earn them a 3-2 victory.

The visitors, beaten only once in the league this season, had been staring down the barrel of a first defeat in 21 games after Pepe Chino-Smith's clinical double had put the hosts in the driving seat.

His first after three minutes came when he glanced home Dan Hiscock's precision centre before an assured finish following a Lee Vint assist made it 2-0 in the 17th minute.

Harvey Wright, who had hit the crossbar in the first half, halved the deficit when he was afforded the freedom of the Ringwood six-yard box to nod James King's corner past Tom Edmonds 12 minutes into the second period.

And the free-scoring right-back took to eight his goal tally for the season when he met a cross from King with another well-placed header to restore parity eight minutes from time.

Returning Priory hero Scott Joyce put Wilcock's winner on a plate, with Ringwood goalkeeper Edmonds receiving a straight red card late on for speaking out of turn to a linesman.

Victory took Christchurch three points clear of second-placed Andover New Street and with two games in hand. Priory host rejuvenated Verwood on Saturday, while Ringwood travel to Tadley Calleva.

Ringwood: Edmonds, Purdue, Osman, Cowland, Clarke, Johnston, Hiscock, Brown, Vint, Smith, Harris. Unused subs: Hopper, Dilnott, Heggan, Pierson, Ford.

Christchurch: Tewkesbury, Wright, Jackson, Blake, Douglas (Senior, 75), Legg, Neale, Cooper (Grange, 69), Joyce (Gage, 89), Wilcock, King. Unused subs: Robinson, Frampton.

Tim Stephenson was on target for Lymington in their 2-1 defeat by Sydenhams Wessex Premier leaders Andover, while Poppies went down 1-0 at Shaftesbury.