Colden Common 1 Paulsgrove 2
LIGHTNING did strike twice as once again the Premier Division champions were denied the opportunity of a League and Cup ‘double’.

Twelve months ago, it was inaugural champions AFC Stoneham who were defeated in the final by Team Solent and, this year, it was proud Paulsgrove who overturned an early deficit to beat Colden Common and lift the trophy.

Yet it had all started so brightly for the Commoners who moved ahead after 13 minutes when Craig Martin’s far post left-wing delivery was brilliantly cracked back over the Paulsgrove keeper by Dean Higgins.
Common should have increased their advantage when a sweet passing moment released Ben Thomson but he stabbed the ball wide when well-placed from 15 yards.

Persistent Paulsgrove levelled matters on 39 minutes when a superb solo run down the left flank by man-of-the-match Liam Horsted saw him burst into the penalty area to dispatch a low shot under the Common keeper.
And it was Horsted who had a big hand in their winning goal on 58 minutes, the Paulsgrove teenager’s wicked cross being deflected into his own net by an unlucky Common defender.

LOCKS Heath Reserves successfully retained the Combination Cup with a battling 3-1 extra-time victory over Clanfield Reserves.

After both teams had rattled the woodwork in an end-to-end opening 45 minutes, holders ‘Heath surged ahead in the 62nd minute when Ed Pratt curled home a sweet 25-yard free-kick.

Clanfield were finally rewarded for their attacking endeavours with five minutes remaining when James Southall drilled in a close-range left-footed finish.

Combination runners-up Locks Heath seized the initiative again after 108 minutes when Scott Steele drove home a pinpoint corner from Oli Amos and, seven minutes later, Callie Culverhouse broke clear and played in Pratt who gleefully tucked away his second and ‘Heath’s third.

It was a most successful day for the Puma Engineering Hampshire Premier League at Fareham Town’s Cams Alders home on May Bank Holiday.

A crowd numbering around the 200 mark generated gate receipts of around £560 for the Combination Cup final and, an estimated 300 people for the Senior Cup final took the total gate receipts for the two games to an impressive £1,300.