CHRISTCHURCH boss Pete Moore believes his men could be the "dark horses" of the Wessex League next season after their impressive 3-1 victory over AFC Totton.

The Hurn Bridge outfit are one of the form sides in the Wessex League at the moment having won eight of their last 10 league fixtures but the manager is already looking towards the new term.

He said: "If we can keep the current squad together and add a couple of people to it, we could well be the dark horses of the league next season.

"We were third from bottom when I took over but I am not blowing my trumpet - it is the players who have turned it around. Everyone has worked very hard.

"We need to keep the momentum going until the end of the season and come back next year in the same frame of mind, but it is going well at the moment."

Moore was delighted with this deserved victory over Totton, having already beaten Barry Blankley's side at Testwood Park back in December.

He said: "It was a tremendous result for us and it was a good all-round performance. Not many sides turn Totton over twice in a season, home and away."

Richard Bentley opened the scoring for Priory inside the first 10 minutes after a fine piece of skill from Ross Edwards carved an opening for his team-mate to smash home.

Scott Joyce extended the lead midway through the second half after he was felled by the Totton goalkeeper inside the area. The visting keeper was fortunate not be given a red card but Joyce was unruffled as he stepped up to confidently slot home from the spot.

Totton, however, hauled themselves back into the game with five minutes left as they pulled one back, despite appeals for offside, to set up a tense final. The visitors came close to grabbing an equaliser before Priory put the game beyond reach with the goal of the game.

Substitute Chris Kennedy clipped home a fine third over the advancing goalkeeper, following a glorious 40-yard through-ball from Paul Rideout in the closing moments.

Kennedy, a former gymnast, celebrated his strike with a Lomana Lua Lua-style series of somersaults along the touchline.

Moore laughed: "I'm not sure the other team enjoy it as much as we do but it is great to see - as long as he doesn't injure himself doing it!"

Christchurch: Frampton, Hancock, Massie, Hughes, Rideout, Griffiths, Wyatt, Edwards (Lawrence, 70), Bailey-Pearce, Bentley (Johnson, 85), Joyce (Kennedy, 70).