Southampton Senior League - Premier Division Nursling 5, Malvern 1.

NURSLING gave their goal difference another big boost with a late surge against Malvern on Saturday - but then had to swallow the bitter pill that their title chances may have vanished.

Just after wrapping up their victory, they heard that present leaders Comrades had beaten second-in-the-table Bush Hill 2-1.

"We thought they might drop points, but that win means that if they beat Academicals tomorrow (Saturday) we can't catch them," said Nursling manager Mike Lyel.

Nursling got off to a flying start against Malvern with John Rowley scoring after four minutes and Danny Gettings making it 2-0 two minutes later.

But Malvern hit back and cut the deficit to 2-1 before half-time. They showed their determination again in the second-half without seriously troubling Jason Bridges in the Nursling goal, but finally cracked in the last 20 minutes.

Liam Dyer, pictured right, scored Nursling's third from a penalty after John Rowley had been brought down. Rowley continued to cause problems and netted a superb header after 85 minutes, with Lee Byrne capping a tireless performance by getting the last touch in a frantic goalmouth scramble to make it 5-1.

Hamble Harriers 0, Nursling 6.

THE goal spree continued on Monday with Jake Wilson getting a hat-trick in the runaway win over Hamble and it was Nursling's stayingf power which held the key to the big score.

They were still made to battle every inch of the way to break down Hamble's crowded penalty area, with the home goalkeeper having a fine game.

But the breakthrough came after 20 minutes when Wilson, who had earlier hit the bar, scored his first.

Two minutes later, Terry Koizou added the second, but then the Harriers held firm until 10 minutes after half-time when Johnm Rowley headed home a Dyer cross.

It was Dyer again who crossed for Jimmy Dorwood, brought in to help Nursling through their late fixture pile-up, to head the fourth on the hour. A final flurry saw Wilson push the total up to six with goals in the 85th and 89th minutes.

Nursling wind their season up with home games against WTL Solent tomorrow and Otterbourne on Wednesday.