WINCHESTER’S automatic South League Premier Division 2 promotion prospects could hinge on them winning their two home matches against Purley Walcountians and West Hampstead this weekend.

A 6-0 win at lowly Lewes kept Winchester within five points of Oxford University, who scrambled a 2-1 victory over Blackheath.

More significantly, Winchester enjoy a slender one-point lead – but with a far superior goal difference – over Tulse Hill & Dulwich, who trimmed Trojans 3-0 at Stoneham Lane.

Two goals each by Isaac Hocking, Kent Langridge and Will Phillips saw Winchester to a 6-0 win, while former Portsmouth Grammar School captain Jason Buckeridge converted a penalty stroke as the table-topping Dark Blues trimmed Blackheath 2-1 at Iffley Road.

Two goals in three minutes late in the first half ended any prospect Trojans had of checking Tulse Hill’s own promotion push.

The visitors had the majority of the early possession but Trojans almost took the lead against the run of play with Calum Crichton denied at close range by the Tulse Hill goalkeeper.

The scores were level until shortly before half time when two goals in quick succession by Fred Courtney gave Tulse Hill control and a further Martyn White goal late in the game sealed the points.

l Trojans Ladies II should be full of confidence for Saturday lunchtime’s crucial South Women’s League Division 3B promotion showdown with Guildford at Broadwater School.

They go into the match that will probably decide third place in the table – behind title contenders Surbiton and East Grinstead – on the back of a decisive 5-0 win over Teddington.

Bella Slawin’s sixth goal of the season from a short corner gave Trojans a lead, which Kat Petch doubled.

Trojans’ third before half-time was a real eye catcher – a sensational finish by Jemima Spurr, who smashed an upright reverse stick finish into the roof of the Teddington net.

A second half brace by ten-goal top scorer Sarah Shaw completed the scoring.

Fareham eased the growing pressure on coach Steve Lemon with a 1-0 win at Eastbourne – their first in eight outings since late November.

They travelled to East Sussex with a bare 11 players but snatched a victory on the back of a first half goal by Vicky Field.

Goalkeeper Swati, playing her farewell game before returning to India, made several key saves.

A relieved Lemon said: “We knew it was going to be hard with the bare 11 players and were hanging on a bit at the end, but defended superbly.”

Southampton, with only one win in 12 themselves, lost 1-0 to Wanderers and have dropped to third from bottom.