A LATE winner from centre-back Jon Noakes helped Hook close the gap to Basingstoke Royals at the top of the Basingstoke and District Saturday League Premier Division.

League leaders Royals were without a game at the weekend, giving the chasing pack a chance to gain ground, but Hook found the going tough away at Sherborne St John.

The hosts were forced to play striker Matt Livingstone in goal and he pulled off a fine save to deny Dave White early on, but Hook took the lead just before the half-hour mark, when Spencer Champ’s poor back-pass was seized upon by White.

Sherborne levelled with 15 minutes to play, Declan Shuttleworth finding the top corner with an excellent volley from 30 yards, but Noakes got the winner eight minutes from time, diving to head home Dan Mellors’ cross.

Rising Sun DC also closed the gap to Royals, beating Bramley United by the odd goal in five. Goals from Luke Richardson and Jamie Ballentyne seemed to have the title chasers in control, but Ben Squibb’s penalty got Bramley back into the game before half-time.

Sam Cato headed home a Squibb free-kick to level the game on 65 minutes, but Richardson’s second of the game won all three points for Rising Sun with eight minutes left.

Kye Theodore found the net seven times as Tadley Calleva A romped to a 10-2 win over Welly Old Boys. Simon Penfold put Tadley ahead and while James Brown levelled for Welly, an own-goal had Tadley back in front, with goals from Theodore and Garry Hibbs making it 4-1 at the break.

Theodore completed his hat-trick after the break and while Brown doubled his and Welly’s tally, Theodore scored three more in the closing stages to complete the scoring.