DEPLETED Christchurch boosted their chances of a top-four finish by chalking up the result of the day in the Wessex Premier – a 3-1 win at second-placed Bemerton Heath.

Sam Griffin’s double sandwiched a James Burden effort as Priory came from behind to down Harlequins at Western Way for the second season in succession.

A combination of injury, suspension and the loss of dual registered pair Shaun Brian and Russell Cook to Wimborne had left boss Graham Kemp with just 13 players at his disposal.

Kemp said: “Under the circumstances and taking everything into consideration, it was our best result of the season.

“But it wasn’t only the result, it was the manner of the victory as well. We were outstanding.

“They scored straight after half-time to knock us a bit but we responded in style and got what we deserved.”

Priory: Prodomo, Thompson, Legg, Crutchley, Costello, Burt, Taylor, Fairbrother, Osborne, Griffin, Burden. Unused subs: Harris, Dand.

• Boss Simon Browne was thankful for a stroke of good fortune as Hamworthy United registered a 2-1 win at struggling Laverstock & Ford.

Browne had seen Hammers come from behind to take the lead courtesy of a Billy Maybury own goal and a Lee Chudy effort.

And after squandering a hatful of chances to make the points safe, the visitors then had the benefit of a refereeing decision when Stuart Cannie appeared to foul an opponent.

Browne said: “We nearly threw it away at the end when they probably should have had a penalty. Some days they are given and some days they aren’t. Thankfully for us, it wasn’t.”

Cherries apprentice Maybury opened the scoring for the hosts and was credited with the final touch as Hammers restored parity five minutes into the second half before Chudy bagged the winner.

Hammers: Evans, Yelland, Horlock, White, Haysom, Lanahan, Robinson, Stacey, Whitcher (Cannie, 75), Chudy (Basing, 89), Burbidge. Unused sub: Pidgley.

• Luke Ingram grabbed a last-gasp winner as FA Vase heroes Bournemouth Poppies edged a 2-1 victory at Lymington Town.

Bournemouth University student Ingram scored from close range in the dying seconds, his effort infuriating the hosts who claimed he had been offside.

To compound their frustrations, Iain Calder, who had earlier netted for Lymington to cancel out Fawzi Saadi’s opener, received a red card for his protestations.

Saadi pounced on an error by goalkeeper George Passingham to open the scoring after 20 minutes before Calder levelled eight minutes from time.

Poppies: Vaughan, Crow, Jackson, Byrne, Crutcher, Blake, Ingram, Phillipson-Masters (Swann, 28), Ewen, Saadi, Taylor (Mas, h-t). Unused subs: Madero, Mena.