Sydenhams Wessex League - Division 3. Micheldever 1, Colden Common 0

COLDEN Common's hopes of lifting the first ever Wessex Division 3 championship were dealt a body-blow by Micheldever's Paul Nelson at the Lord Rank Field on Tuesday night.

A thrilling game between two sides committed to victory, watched by an enthusiastic crowd, was decided by Nelson's strike eight minutes before the break. Fittingly, the goal was a superb one - a half-volley across keeper Dave Nicol and into the top-right hand corner of the net from a Nick Lewis right-wing cross.

Common had looked the more dangerous in the early stages. Richard Lang, sent clear by Dean Higgins, thumped the crossbar with a shot and repeated the act with a glancing header. On the stroke of half-time Scott Tarran in the home goal saved well with his feet to deny Lang again.

But before the goal Dever had shown signs of getting back into it, the lively Nelson the pick of their attack.

After the break Common again had the bulk of the chances, but Tarran performed heroics while defenders Ian Daniell and Andy Edwards, marshalled by the imposing Lee Baker, seemed to be everywhere.

On 55 minutes Common seemed certain to equalise. Lang robbed a defender close to the by-line and crossed for Higgins, who had the time to shimmy, leaving Tarran grounded. But Tony Brierley somehow got back beyond his keeper and deflected Higgins' shot wide of the post.

Late on, with Common pushing up, Dever had a couple of chances to extend their lead. But Nicol tipped Maciej Kot's long-range drive around the post and then kept Green's header out with another fine save.

With darkness descending Dever withstood a late siege to hold out against their old rivals, putting a dent in their title hopes in the process. But it was a game neither side had deserved to lose.