Fareham Town battled through the Cams Alders mud, rain and a howling gale to sink Sydenhams Wessex League neighbours Moneyfields 3 -2 with two late goals.

But their place in today's FA Vase second round draw was in some jeopardy at half-time when Guildford referee Lee Collins appeared in two minds whether to continue the tie in the atrocious conditions.

"It really was bad out there. I was struggling to keep my feet and the wind was driving the rain into the players' faces on what was an already saturated surface," he said.

"Referees have to be very conscious of the safety aspect, so I had a long chat with both managers at half-time and gave them the option whether to carry on - or play on another day.

"They opted to carry on provided the conditions didn't deteriorate. Fortunately the rain abated and we got the game finished."

And what Fareham and Moneyfields served up - in barely playable conditions - was eminently watchable.

There were mistakes galore, but no shortage of action, particularly late on when Fareham's strength and superiority told.

Fareham's young side called the tune for an hour, with the strength and stamina of Floyd Hamodu hugely effective in the cloying mud.

It was his presence - and considerable strength on the ball - that enabled Fareham to take the lead on the half-hour.

Collecting the ball ten yards outside of the visitors' penalty area, Hamodu - his back to goal - fended off three separate challenges from Moneyfields defenders before ushering a pass across the face of the box, from where Steve Boston drilled a low drive past Dean Wain.

It looked as though Fareham might take that lead into the half-time break.

But Moneyfields, seldom threatening with real venom, caught their hosts on the break right on the stroke of referee Collins's whistle.

Stuart Chandler got away down the left and curled a teasing cross to the back post, where on-loan Havant & Waterlooville man Gary Gilmour headed the equaliser.

It was tit for tat for a while after Collins gave the green light for the game to continue and Moneyfields - playing with renewed vigour and confidence - wasted two good chances to snatch a victory.

Defender Barry Hooper headed into goalkeeper Lee Webber's arms from a set-piece and then Gary Jones screwed an effort wide when he ought to have done a lot better.

Those misses proved costly as Wessex League draw specialists Moneyfields, eyeing the prospect of a replay in their cramped Copnor backyard, were twice undone in the closing stages.

Hamodu restored Fareham's advantage with 12 minutes left, powering on to Lewes Fennemore's through ball and then joining in the celebrations as Dan Turner scrambled an 83rd-minute clincher after Moneyfields had hooked the ball off their own goalline three times in a frantic melee.

Fareham were delighted - but probably not so the Cams Alders groundsman, who may have to put in a few hours overtime to get his playing surface back to normal.