HAMWORTHY United moved up to fourth in the Wessex League Division One with a 2-0 victory over Ringwood Town.

With postponements, the Hammers knew a victory would move them up the table, but Ringwood were unbeaten since the end of September.

The first chance of the game fell to Bailey Rowe for Hamworthy, teed up by a Josh Malpas low cross, but Town keeper Will Griffin got down to make an excellent save, 18 minutes on the clock.

The Hammers were making the better of the chances in the difficult, wet and windy conditions, with Louis Bragginton firing wide with a powerful strike.

Hamworthy took the lead in the final minute of the first period.

A long diagonal from Jake Streams was flicked on by Jack Delves to Malpas, who once again found Rowe with a pinpoint low cross, and he gave Griffin no chance from three yards out, stabbing the ball home.

The conditions worsened through the game, but it opened up after the break.

Jack Hughes curled an effort just wide, before Jeremy James made his first save, getting down to stop an awkward shot from Lee Vint.

The Hammers doubled their lead in the 61st minute, with Lewis Sainvall heading powerfully across the keeper into the top corner from a Delves corner.

Stopper Griffin in the Ringwood net made a number of good saves to keep the deficit at two as Hamworthy got firmly on top and playing some good, creative football.

The Town looked threatening on the break, though, with the Hammers prone to giving away free kicks in dangerous positions, and Ringwood went close in the final minute from one such set piece.

But James was equal to Jesse Rabin’s header and tipped over the bar at the near post.

The Hammers saw off the remainder of the game to take the three points and a valuable clean sheet.