BRANKSOME Railway were rocked by the resignations of long-serving co-managers Steve Wood and Steve Manuel following last week’s shock MA Hart Robbins Cup defeat against New Star United.

With Sean Read stepping into the breach as temporary player-manager, Railway were quickly back on track with a couple of second-half goals from Dan Manuel ensuring a 2-0 success against Premier Division rivals West Moors SSC.

Bournemouth Electric substitute Mickey Wynne came off the bench to score twice in the closing stages as they maintained their two-point lead at the top with a 4-1 victory over Spire Broadway. Dan Baguley scored the other Electric goals with Luke McCoy netting the Spire consolation.

Reigning champions East Christchurch SSC remain two points behind after Chris Forbes (2) and Alan Etherton gave them the edge 3-2 against bottom-placed Foresters Arms, who replied through Ross Clark and Jamie Chilcott.

Tony Bellot produced a brilliant late winner when Bournemouth Sports just got the better of Branksome Conservative 2-1. Bellot also scored the other Sports goal with Michael Blythe replying for Branksome.

Meanwhile, Wallisdown Liberal chalked up a third successive victory when Martin Da Silva scored either side of half-time to subdue Berrans Park Avenue 2-0.

DIVISION ONE: Queens Park Rovers continued to blaze a trail at the top of the table after sweeping aside Cranleigh 5-2 courtesy of Jake Ormond’s hat-trick and further goals from Tom Doughty and Danny Anderson.

Nearest rivals New Milton Town were 6-2 winners against Kavell thanks to Paul White (2), Will Ireland (2), Craig Light and Matt Molloy, while Neil Bullen and Luke Stone gave Darby’s Corner a 2-0 success against Bournemouth Electric Reserves.

Kinson Conservative built a comfortable four-goal lead thanks to Adam Watson (2), Alex Grimason and Wayne Fripp but they were forced to hang on after Parley Sports came back with three goals in five second-half minutes through Pepe Smith (2) and Jamie Sadler.

DIVISION TWO: James Mellish netted for Tiegla Tiles but 100 per cent Division Two leaders Priory Quays opened up a five-point lead when they emerged 3-1 winners in the top-of-the-table clash thanks to Russell Blandford, James Norman and an own goal.

Bournemouth Athletic went second on goal difference after toppling AFC Burton 6-1 courtesy of Andy Wright’s hat-trick and further goals from Scott Reilly (2) and Jamie Frier.

DIVISION THREE: Paul Fisher, Ross Edwards and Bradley Asagba gave Division Three pacesetters Tradeprice UK a 3-0 victory over Ferndown Locomotive.

Joscelyne Builders, meanwhile, strengthened their grip on second place with a 6-2 triumph over Rossmore Athletic thanks to Mark Rourke (2), Andy Marques, Pete Gardner, James Elliott and Dan Gifford.

Eurasat Lions tore apart Dorset Knob 8-1 with goals from Danny Nash (2), Wayne Nash (2), Joe Harris, Mark Saunders, Ryan Speller and Scott Few, while a solitary Matty Ings strike for Rec Athletic was enough to settle the issue 1-0 against JS Bournemouth Sports.

DIVISION FOUR: Rob Scadding scored both goals when Division Four high-fliers AFC Burns Lettings Reserves accounted for Three Cross 2-0, while Shoulder of Mutton United also maintained their perfect record when Ed Molloy, Sam Goodwin and Tom Hall gave them the upper hand 3-1 against Tudor Rose.

AFC Westvale opened their points account when Andy Gosling struck twice to give them the verdict 2-1 in the basement battle with Boscombe Celtic, who now find themselves propping up the table.

Division Five pacesetters Queens Park Rovers Reserves gave Oakdale Conservative a 6-0 hiding with goals from Richard Collins (2), Sam Mole (2), Robbie Harber and Colin Whittam.

Sandor Wilson struck twice when second-placed Lovett sank Carling Sports 4-0 with Gareth Brickhill and Jon Little adding one apiece.

Ruben Fernandes rattled in four for depleted Magpies and Andy Buckland added another but Barton Wanderers won 7-5 thanks to Nick Broom’s hat-trick and further goals from Billy Hancock, Jimmy Sheppard, Aaron Flower and Anthony Seeley.

DIVISION SIX: Shivan Roushbaiani and Ashley Boyt netted for Bluewood Athletic but the Division Six frontrunners had their perfect record ruined when Talbot Pub held them to a 2-2 draw with a couple of goals from Jamie Wilson.

Nearest rivals Greenfields WMF suffered a similar fate when Scott Logan struck twice to earn Wessex Wanderers a 2-2 draw.

Verwood SSC are hot on their heels after Chris Wright (2), Chris Thompson and Chris Hudson clinched a 4-3 win over AFC Ringwood.

DIVISION SEVEN: Kam Tinker and Joel Sheppard struck for Division Seven high-fliers LV FC but Pines TRC toppled them 3-2 with goals from Tom Bending, Pete Valinski and Dave Hughes.

Sunseekers drew level on points with the leaders after Adam Til-sed (2) and Alex Troke ensured a 3-1 success against DH Britannia, while Danny Davey tucked away a hat-trick as Chaseside Wanderers poleaxed Ferndown Forest with Karl Gostling (pen) and Matt Hicks also on target.

DIVISIONS EIGHT & NINE: Rockbourne moved three points clear in Division Eight after James Cheeseman (2) and Robin Tennant ensured a 3-0 victory over Shoulder of Mutton United Reserves.

Danny Pine notched a hat-trick for Horse & Jockey and Ross Singleton added a brace but Five-ways United won a 6-5 thriller thanks to Rob Lay, Jon Hibbert and James Flynn’s four-goal blast.

Ricky Powell plundered four and Adam Janes bagged a hat-trick when Newtown hammered Priory Quays Reserves 8-2 with the other goal coming from Nathan Clear.

Ben Norris led the way with a hat-trick when Ensbury Park Rangers walloped Wessex Saints 7-0 in Division Nine with Stuart Lane, Marc Norris, Jon Lane and James Bainton also on target.