ALEX Pike saw his Hamworthy United side move into fourth place in the table and then dedicated the victory to his verbal sparring partner Pete Moore.

The Poppies boss called Hamworthy "one of the form sides of the division" ahead of the Wessex League Cup clash, which the Hammers subsequently won 2-1.

And Pike's side secured the same scoreline at Thatcham thanks to two set-piece routines that Brett Williams and Michael White converted with headers.

Pike said: "I'd like to dedicate that win to my old adversary Pete Moore.

"My players saw his comments in the Daily Echo about them being the form side of the Wessex League and it gave them a nice little injection of confidence.

"They all believe they are world beaters now - especially as the comments came from such a highly-respected source."

After falling behind two minutes before the break, Williams rose highest to power home Anthony Tilley's corner for a Hammers equaliser on the stroke of half-time.

White produced a similar finish early in the second half from Ryan Dovell's delivery to effectively seal the three points.

Pike said: "I wasn't there but apparently we celebrated like we had won the Wessex League Cup after beating Poppies on Tuesday. But then again, we already know how that feels to win that competition having done it last season."

He added: "Defensively, we were excellent again.

"I know we need to bring in a striker and I am working on a few things at the moment."

Hamworthy United: Hutchings, Gilbert, Williams, White, Lockyer, Legg, Dovell (Bedward, 70), Edwards, Waldock, Tilley, Gill. Unused subs: Pidgley, Baguley, Wilson.