EXPERIENCED striker Leigh Phillips believes Poppies could be heading for a top two finish after they sneaked a win at Bemerton with an own goal.

Poppies frontman Steve Strong's surging run and cross was deflected into his own net by Kane O'Keefe as they took an early lead.

But Bemerton, with another ex-Cherries player, Marcus Oldbury, pulling the strings in their midfield, gave the Victoria Park outfit a major fright.

Phillips said: "We were inconsistent and on another day we may have come unstuck.

"We scored and then we went off the boil and Bemerton took control of the game.

"It could have ended up 10-8 but it was 1-0 and the only goal was an own goal which is quite ironic."

Phillips believes Totton, who beat Lymington Town 2-0 away to go 11 points clear at the top, will go on and take the Premier Division title.

However, he said: " We are part of the chasing pack and have the best form among those.

"Two weeks ago, it looked like we would end up fifth, getting on for 100 points which would have been unheard of anywhere in the world.

"As it is now we have a good chance of finishing runners-up.

"The title has gone because Totton have the points in the bag.

"They have four games to play but if they win two I would think they have won the league because we can get 103 and Totton can get 109.

"But what is great from our point of view is that we haven't got to play any of the top teams, while everyone else in the top five has to play against some of the others."

Poppies: Kearn, Beckett, Morrell (Crow ht), Cherrett, Dibba, M Smith, Dancer, Sanderson, Constable, Phillips (Jeffes 80), Strong (McCabe 89). Unused subs: White, M Toy.