ALRESFORD Town’s new signing Paul Coventry made an instant impact for the Magpies in Saturday’s 6-3 goal fest against Bashley.

The striker scored 17 goals for Tadley Calleva last season to help win them promotion to the Sydenhams Premier Division.

And he began his Alresford stay as he intends to continue, striking twice as the Magpies battled back from 3-1 down.

Thanking Tadley for their assistance in the signing, a Magpies statement said: “Cov was a trarget of the football club in the summer, but opted to stay with the team he helped promote.

“After helping Tadley beat Alresford twice in five months at Arlebury Park and being a massive part of that, we are delighted to now be seeing him play in our shirt.”

Coventry was not quite the star of the show against Bashley, however. That accolade went to hat-trick man Sam Burt, while ex-Andover midfielder Alex Dockree declared himself “buzzing” after scoring his first goal for the club.

It was a terrible turnaround for Bashley who, having scored three goals in the first 27 minutes through Dan Munday and Cameron Beard (2), appeared to be in the comfort zone at 3-1.

But two goals in five minutes changed all that as Coventry slammed in a free-kick and then teed up Burt for his second of the game.

The second half was all black and white with early goals from Dockree and Burt giving Alresford a 5-3 lead. New boy Coventry crowned victory with a free header.

It was a tough introduction to Wessex football for Bashley under-19 stopper Isaac Haigh, signed just 24 hours beforehand as a replacement for the injured Jason Collins.

Without Coventry, Tadley Calleva picked up an excellent point in a 2-2 draw at Baffins Milton Rovers.

Baffins incurred the wrath of their manager Steve Leigh after surrendering a two-goal lead earned by first-half goals from Ashton Leigh and Shane Cornish.

In response Tadley’s Shaun Dallimore set up Sam Hamilton for a 55th-minute reply before heading in the equaliser himself two minutes later.

“Our work-rate was poor and we were lucky in the end,” admitted an angry Leigh.

Leaders Sholing racked up their ninth win out of nine at the 3-0 expense of Cowes Sports, albeit that manager Dave Diaper described the scoreline as “slightly flattering against a workmanlike Cowes side who, for 75 minutes, gave us a game.”

Dan Mason opened the scoring on 16 minutes, smashing home from 18 yards, but Cowes hit the post through skipper Gareth Bricknell and it took until the last knockings for the Boatmen to make the game safe.

Lee Wort made it 2-0 on 82 minutes following a one-two with Mason, who then headed home TJ Cuthbertson’s free-kick in stoppage time.

It took Wort and Mason onto 24 goals apiece ahead of tonight's trip to Team Solent.

“Credit to my guys, who did enough to win the game and gain an ugly win,” added Diaper.

Brockenhurst took a 22nd-minute lead at home to high-flying Horndean before being brought back down to earth 3-1.

After Matt Sheedy had struck for the Badgers, Harry Jackson grabbed a brace and Jack Maloney sealed the Deans win with a late penalty.

That win took Horndean into second, leapfrogging AFC Portchester who suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat at Christchurch.

Jack Satterley’s 29th-minute opener for Christchurch was snuffed out by Mike Turvey before a second-half wonder strike from Max Wilcock secured Priory the three points.

The striker had time to bring the ball under control, turn and fire a superb volley into the net from 22 yards.

A 45-yard Alex Godfrey strike sparked Portland United to life as they recovered from a goal down to thump Bemerton Heath Harlequins 6-2.

Further goals from Steven Walker, Ryan McKechnie, Ross Doidge and Jamie Symes (2) eclipsed the efforts of Jack Slade and Jordan Matthews for the visitors.

Portland boss Brendon King said: “We have been winning games without being at the peak. I said once we do really click then we are going to give someone a good hiding and certain parts of our game were an actual joy to watch.”

Former Salisbury man Claudio Herbert scored a magnificent solo goal for Andover New Street, but it was not enough to ward of a 3-1 home deat by Bournemouth Poppies.

Steve Flynn and Fawzi Saadi had put Poppies ahead before Herbert’s 66th-minute show-stopper and Mickey Finch polished things off eight minutes from time.

That defeat, combined with Team Solent’s 2-2 draw at Fareham Town, plonked New Street back to the bottom of the table.

Solent led 2-0 at the break thanks to brace man Hisham Kasimu, but Simon Woods trimmed the deficit for Fareham with a 73rd-minute shot on the turn before setting up birthday boy Curt Robbins for a late equaliser.

Hamble Club played over 80 minutes with ten men after an early dismissal, but still came away 2-1 winners from Shaftesbury thanks to Doug Rowe (penalty) and John Cole.

It was another bad day at the office for Lymington Town, thumped 4-0 at home by Hamworthy United for their fifth league defeat in a row.

Jamie Gleeson, Ed Hodge, Nathan Walker and sub River Smith did the damage.