BASINGSTOKE Saints lost 5-2 to in-form rivals Basingstoke Royals in the the Basingstoke and District Sunday League Division One.

Saints took an early lead, after good play and a ball over the top of the Royals' defence, Jamie Larkin lobbing the goalkeeper for the first goal for the club.

Royals shrugged off the setback and asserted themselves, Mark Horton levelling from just inside the box, and James McIntosh going around the keeper for a 2-1 half-time lead.

It was soon 3-1 following a cross from Ryan Tubb onto Steven Price' head into the far corner of the goal.

Scott Roberts headed cross led to McIntosh getting his second goal, then Steve Horton volleyed in from the edge of area.

Saints' Larkin had pressurised the defender for his and Saints' second, but they pushed up in an attempt to get more goals and left the back door open.

Royals triumphed 5-2, giving them six wins on the trot, the last three at home. FC Everest picked up their first home point with an equaliser from a free kick, the last kick of the game, in a 3-3 draw with Dayers Fine Foods.

David Chilcott, Alex Spencer, and Haydon Chalker netted for the hosts, while Joe Hill, Joe Osborne, Carl Pearson did likewise for Dayers.

Republic of Chineham were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Oakley, who took the lead after Jamie Smith beat four players and laid the ball on a plate for Dan Bloma.

Republic battled back to level before the interval, Bloma converted a penalty for his second and the winner.

Keith Tucker did well in the middle for Oakley and great defence at the back from Jamie Smith and Daniel Walkley to retain the lead for a great result.

Division Two leaders Affini Technology led the game twice against home side Bramley United, with Nick Jupp scoring 20 minutes into the match.

Ten minutes later, Simon Goff's corner to Stuart Leddy provided the equaliser. Fifteen minutes into the second half, Shane Third edged Affini ahead but Leddy got his second within five minutes with a 20-yard shot, before completing his hat-trick 10 minutes from time.

Bramley have chalked up four wins on the bounce, while inflicting the first defeat of the season on Affini, who were unbeaten in their first nine.

Chineham lost 4-1 to visitors Eastrop Eagles, who scored through Kirk Smith, Keith Davies, Bobbi Frost, and Nathan Bennis, while Jamie Dockree netted for Chineham.

Revolution dominated their game at UWS, but lost 2-1 after a series of missed chances. The reverse ends a run of six unbeaten games.

Division Three leaders North Warnborough Reserves gave a lesson in finishing with a 9-1 win over newcomers Basingstoke Saints Reserves, with Sam Wilson and Alexander Jeffers banging in hat-tricks, Thomas Jourdan a brace, and Dean Frost. Josh Jarrett tapped in Saints' consolation.

Camrose Social suffered their first league defeat going down 3-1 at home to Soldiers Return Reserves, despite Dave Purt's stunning Beckhamesque 30-yard free kick.

Ben Hobday added to the Camrose grief with an own goal, while Alex Izzo struck twice for Soldiers.

The visitors started against a strong wind and played the better football in the first half, but conceded against run of play, but Izzo equalised just before the breakfasted a goal line mêlée.

Following taking the lead through the own goal, Izzo banged the ball from 25 yards into the top corner. Other chances went begging for Soldiers and Camrose came more into the fame near the end.

Despite a pair of penalties by Ollie Owen and David Fagan, Chineham Athletic went down 3-2 to FC Benidorm of Stoke, with Rob Langley, Luke Taylor, and Josh Gardiner on the score sheet, all in the first half. Stoke have now won three on the trot.

DG Athletic lost 3-0 at home to Chineham Reserves, Tyler Andrews, Joe Marsh, and Ellesio Stait finding the net and ending a run of three defeats or conceded matches.