Colden Common kept their grasp on the Hants Intermediate Cup with a narrow 2-1 4th Round win over their Wessex Division 3 rivals at a cold, windy Lord Rank Field last Saturday.

The fierce local rivals served up a good, hard battle for a sizeable crowd. The match lacked nothing in commitment and effort even though both sides' attempts to play good football largely fell victim to the tricky conditions and their opponents' determination.

Dever, enjoying the wind at their backs in the first half, took the lead after twelve minutes. They won a free-kick just outside the Common penalty area and although Mark Green's initial shot was blocked, Paul Nelson reacted quickest to turn the rebound past Dave Nicol from close range.

Common, unbeaten in 19 matches, were finding it hard to pierce the experienced Dever rearguard of Barry Edwards, Ian Daniell and Martin Bailey, all of whom were playing well. When they did get through, courtesy of excellent interpassing between Joe Hodge, James Atterbury and Dean Higgins, Lee Kelly's shot flew over the bar.

The equaliser came after 37 minutes. Left winger Hodge popped up on the Common right, and his cross was met by a precise Higgins flicked header that angled across Scott Tarran and in off the far post.

Early in the second half Common scored the winner. Andy Piller's corner was helped on by the breeze, Tarran flapped ineffectually at it and Atterbury was left with the simple task of nodding the ball home from right on the goal-line.

Dever turned up the wick, and Barry Edwards had a couple of efforts on target, but Simon Lemon marshalled his co-defenders masterfully and Nicol saved well from Green to keep his side ahead.

"I hope Dave Stanbrook (Dever manager) isn't too hard on his lads after that," said victorious Common boss Dave Riddell afterwards.

"Neither side deserved to lose, and it could have gone either way. It was never going to be a classic, but we're just delighted to get through."

Both sides return to Wessex League duties tomorrow (Saturday 15th). Third-placed Common travel to RS Basingstoke, while draw specialists Dever entertain fellow mid-table side Clanfield.