PORTCHESTER were crowned champions of Hayward Sunday League Division Four after a nail-biting 5-4 win against third-placed Poole Borough.

Needing a point to take the title from Vienna Suttoners reserves, Portchester could not have wished for a better start when Stuart Marshall opened the scoring in the second minute.

He then added another before Alex Hawey made it three.

Nick Mitchell then pulled one back for Borough on the half hour following an indirect free-kick. Skipper Dan Johnson restored Portchester’s three-goal advantage in the closing minutes of the first half.

The closing stages of the second period became increasingly tense for Portchester after Connor Whitlock struck for Borough with 15 minutes remaining.

Mitchell fired again in the 82nd minute and he then completed his hat-trick in stoppage time to level the contest at 4-4.

Another goal for the visitors would have given the title to Vienna. But Hawey was the hero for Portchester, who netted to give his side the verdict and rubber-stamp the title.

Elsewhere in Division Four, Canford Rovers replaced KB Sports in fourth place after upending them 4-3 thanks to Rhys Corlett and a Bradley Miles hat-trick. Parker Ross scored all three goals for Sports.

Liam Holland was the four-goal star when Newtown Athletic reached the summit of Division Two, thanks to a 6-2 triumph over Alderney Manor.

Adam Janes and Kyle Graham were the other Newtown marksmen with Stuart MacFarlan and Mark Seal replying for Alderney.

AFC East Christchurch are just a point behind Division Three leaders Vienna Suttoners after crushing MK Interiors 11-3.

Ryan Attree and Ryan Butterworth scored four apiece for the victors with Richard Sainsbury, Ben Collie and Nathan McAuliffe adding one each.

Jamie Webber, Rob Stalker and Harry Tompkins were the MK scorers.

Quayside hauled themselves off the bottom of Division Six after their 3-1 success against Poole Rovers thanks to Kai McCrow and a couple of goals from Harry Parkinson. George Burgess was the Rovers scorer.

Despite Dave Midgley’s penalty and a Jamie Trimble hat-trick, East Christchurch SSC were beaten 7-4 by Talbot Rangers in the Supplementary Cup competition for Division One sides.

Steve Flynn, Dominic Falco and Milos Christoforou bagged two apiece for Rangers with Mark Rourke also on target.

  • Reece Hunter and Ewan Clarke netted for Redhill Rangers in the Under-18 Division but Hamworthy Recreation were 7-2 winners thanks to Oliver Bird’s hat-trick, an own goal and further goals from Tom Jarvis, Ashley Sobisch and Samuel Carr-Brown.
  • Two Hayward Sunday League teams are competing in Hampshire Cup finals at Havant & Waterlooville on Sunday.

Division One champions Loch & Quay play Wicor Mill in the John Ward Hampshire Sunday Senior Cup (11am).

Division Three leaders Vienna Suttoners battle Soldiers Return in the Hampshire Intermediate Cup (3pm).