AFC Stoneham comfortably beat Sherborne Town 5-2 to maintain a four-point lead at the top of the Wessex Premier League.

The Purps are now on a ten-game unbeaten run and have full confidence going into the business end of the season.

The Purps took the lead in the 4th minute, when top scorer Duarte Martins finished from close range after Josh Batt’s initial header had been saved.

A lightening quick start saw the lead doubled on the 7th minute, this time Josh Batt nodding home from another excellent corner.

Stoneham player Owen Fee said, “We started the game very positively with two quick goals, despite being relatively average throughout the first half.”

Sherborne Town responded quickly, when Ollie Hebbard finishing a well-worked move down the left-hand side.

The Purps’ effective pressing eventually paid off as a disastrous mistake at the back led to Tyrell Sampson being clean through, where he made no mistake and calmly slotted past Sherborne keeper Liam Morris.

Before half time, the Purps had keeper Callum Lee to thank, making a couple of incredibly smart saves to maintain the two-goal advantage and go into half time 3-1 up.

Following the break it was one-way traffic, as the Purps’ dominance in possession proved too much for the visitors.

“In the second half we looked a lot sharper, brought on some subs and saw out the game well.

Our mentality is very good, and we just must keep doing our job in this title race.”

On the 55th minute Tyrell Sampson scored the pick of the goals, bringing the ball down excellently and getting his second of the game with a well-placed finish.

“Tyrell was always lively, and carried a real throughout the game,” said Assistant manager Graham Purser.

This was swiftly followed by substitute Liam Callaghan reacting first and poking home a fifth, after good work from a short corner.

As the game petered out, Sherborne found a consolation in the 86th minute, Ben Wood finishing smartly at the near post from eight yards out.

“We’re going to need all our front players to contribute throughout this title race and each week we have to keep them hungry and firing.”

“Lewis Nagle was a massive threat and Duarte Martins was a handful throughout the game.”