Bashley needed a late Aaron Cook wonder strike to keep their Dr Martens Eastern Division promotion pot boiling 1-0 at Fleet Town last night.

But though Barry Blankley's men had to work hard to beat their lowly county comrades, they earned glowing praise from ex-Saint Mark Dennis who, with Hampshire cricketer Adie Aymes, is fighting to save Fleet from the drop.

"I thought Bashley were excellent," said former Dell hardman Dennis. "They played good football in neat triangles. They're the best side I've seen us play this season."

Cook's moment of magic came just seven minutes from time when he cut in from the edge of box and hit a left-foot belter from 20 yards - the centre-back's second goal of the season.

Bash could have wrapped it up earlier, but they had a penalty appeal on Craig Davis turned down in the first half and Fleet keeper Simon Arthur - a one-time Bashley target - saved well from Craig Anstey and Davis.

Crucially Bash, who go fifth on goal difference just a point adrift of leaders Dorchester, have banked six out of six away points this week.

Blankley said: "I don't normally set targets but, with it being so tight at the top, we needed maximum points to stay up amongst them."

Returning the compliment to Fleet, the Bash boss added: "They fought for everything and if they battle like that week in, week out and show that much heart and pride, they'll be alright."

Lymington & New Milton hit struggling Blackfield & Langley for six in the Jewson Wessex League at Gang Warily.

Kevin Gill bagged his third hat-trick of the season, adding to a Liam Green brace and a late sixth from Mark Turner.

The Linnets were so much on top that player-manager Graham Kemp reckons they should have reached double figures. Ultimately, though, he was content to move fourth in the table and preserve their unbeaten league record.

He said: "We didn't play as well as we did in the Vase on Saturday, but I'd have been pleased with a 1-0. It's always difficult coming off a big win like we had at Team Bath, but our boys were up for it even though some of our finishing was atrocious.

"We hit the post three times and their keeper made four or five good saves."

The result piles on the problems for Terry Smith's Blackfield, who remain one off the foot of the table with just two wins from 16 games.