Southampton Senior League - Premier Division.

Otterbourne Reserves 0 Nursling 3.

NURSLING completed a double with a difference when they won at Otterbourne on Saturday.

They had beaten the club's first team, who play in Division 2 of the Sydenhams Wessex League, 5-1 in the Hampshire Senior Cup earlier in the season.

And Saturday's success put the Premier Division title chasers on a hat-trick as they are at home to Otterbourne Reserves on Monday (5pm).

After the heavy grounds of the winter, conditions went to the other extreme on Saturday, with a firm and bumpy pitch and the ball bouncing awkwardly in the swirling wind.

But it didn't prevent Nursling from getting off to a flying start, with Liam Dyer making ground on the left and then swinging the ball across to Danny Smith, pictured, who cut in from the right to slam the ball home.

It was 2-0 after 24 minutes and the player who started the move was Patrick McManus, making an impressive return to the side after being out since September with a serious ligament injury.

McManus gained possession in midfield and played the ball forward for Andy Wood to score another good goal.

Nursling stayed on top, with Danny Gettings having a quiet game in goal, and it was no surprise when they added their third goal.

And manager Mike Lyel was full of praise for the Otterbourne player who prevented a much bigger win for his side.

"Their young goalkeepeer had a fantastic game. He wasn't very big, but he made some unbelievable saves," said Lyel.

This week marks the start of a frantic end-of-season fixture rush, with nine games in the space of three weeks. Nursling are away to Bush Hill on Saturday and then comes Monday's return game with Otterbourne. The only consolation is that eight of those last nine games are at home.