THERE was at least one happy Pompey fan on Saturday evening - COLDEN COMMON manager Dave Riddell after watching his side close the gap at the top of the table with a 2-1 home win against TADLEY.

"I'm not worried about the Pompey result, I'm more than happy with our result here today," smiled Fratton fanatic Riddell as the news filtered through that the three teams above fourth-placed Common had all drawn.

The home side took the lead after six minutes. Central defender James Atterbury - playing as an emergency striker - latched on to a superb through ball from Richard Lang to lash his shot past the Tadley keeper.

Common doubled their lead on 30 minutes when the impressive Lang was upended and Simon Lemon dispatched the resultant spot kick. Tadley pulled a goal back in the 55th minute with an 18-yard effort by Tyrone Aldridge.

Leaders FARNBOROUGH NORTH END were held 2-2 at CLANFIELD in a match of three penalties.

Chris Smith fired Clanfield into a 35th-minute lead before North End were awarded the first spot prize on 70 minutes following a push on Steve Lloyd.

But Paul Xiberras saw his kick brilliantly saved by Clanfield keeper Gareth Wiseman, although the visitors were back on level terms two minutes later when Paul Griffiths ran through the middle to equalise.

A handball by Ben Southgate gave Tinio Christie the chance to put Farnborough in front on 85 minutes before Clanfield grabbed a point with yet another spot kick in injury time.

Clanfield's Ben Sutherland was pushed over in the area and he picked himself up to slot home from 12 yards.

Second-placed HAYLING UNITED drew 1-1 with third-placed rivals PAULSGROVE at Harold Road. A spectacular overhead kick by Richie Parkes put Paulsgrove ahead on the hour mark with 'Rocky' Moore slamming home Hayling's equaliser after 75 minutes.

Paul Myburgh's 25th-minute header put NETLEY CENTRAL SPORTS ahead against MICHELDEVER, who hit back to earn a point through a Mark Green penalty, while LAVERSTOCK & FORD and OVERTON also shared a 1-1 draw.

A four-goal blast from Mark Peach - who has now netted 23 times this season - powered FLEETLANDS to a 5-0 victory over QK SOUTHAMPTON. Paul Manniatis completing their nap hand, while goals by Micky Mullins and Darren McIntosh saw HAMBLE CLUB home 2-1 against AFC PORTCHESTER.

Jim Bedford netted the only goal of the game after 60 minutes as OTTERBOURNE pipped ORDNANCE SURVEY 1-0 and, well done, beleaguered basement battlers YATELEY GREEN who secured their first clean sheet of the season in beating VERWOOD 1-0 at their Chandlers Close home.