COMMON extended their run of consecutive league wins to eight, but needed an injury-time Simon Stillwell header to do it against determined Overton.Overton Utd 1 Colden Common 2

This was a real muck-and-bullets affair on a heavy pitch, both sides contributing in full to a thrilling match. The outcome was in doubt right up until the final whistle.

In the first half, Common had a glorious chance to take the lead when a crazy back-pass by Lee Hughes left Richard Lang in a one-on-one with home keeper Neil Butler. Butler, better known as an outfield player, got his team-mate out of jail with a fine save. But he could do nothing except breathe a sigh of relief when he was beaten by James Atterbury's vicious left-foot drive - which rebounded to safety off the inside of the post.

As half-time approached, Dave Nicol made a superb double save to keep out both a shot from Overton's Andy Hackett and the follow-up from Ross Soper-Dyer.

Common eventually took the lead after 71 minutes when the Overton defence allowed Atterbury to steal in unmarked. He stretched to ram Dean Higgins' free-kick past Butler from close range.

But nine minutes later the hosts drew level when Nicol could only parry an innocuous-looking diagonal ball from the right to the feet of sub John Glennister, who coolly side-footed it home.

A draw seemed assured, but as time ran out Overton failed to pick up Stillwell from another Higgins free-kick, and he ghosted in to plant a deft header beyond Butler's grasp.

Even then the hosts might have snatched a late equaliser, but Barney Powell's powerful free-kick flew high and wide of the goal, and Common were home and dry.