Colden Common will fly the flag for the Hampshire League in the Hampshire Intermediate Cup final but RS Basingstoke agonisingly missed out on making it a county league double when they lost out to Southbourne in a penalty shoot-out.

Common survived what manager Dave Riddell described as "a big test of character" to beat renowned Portsmouth battlers Paulsgrove 1-0 at Main Road where Dean Higgins struck the decisive goal with just ten minutes to go.

Since he arrived at Colden Common in December, Riddell has sparked a major improvement which has taken the side to second spot in Division 1 and into the final of the Intermediate Cup for only the second time.

Just a year ago Riddell was celebrating taking North Hants outfit Upham into the final of the Hampshire Junior A Cup.

RS Basingstoke paid dearly for missing a hatful of chances when going down to Bournemouth League Southbourne, who scored against the run of play in the first-half and were then pegged back by a Mark Fox equaliser.

But without their suspended top scorer Nathan Smart, RS were unable to put the finishing touches to their many attacks. The penalty shoot-out was a nail-biting affair only resolved on the eighth round of kicks.

VT were hoping to clinch the Hampshire League Premier Division championship on Saturday but will have to wait until next weekend after being pegged to a goalless draw by Lymington Town at Portsmouth Road.

Lymington have taken five points off the table-toppers this term and impressively have shackled VT's 100-goal attack in both games. VT boss Dave Diaper claimed his side should have had a penalty in an otherwise dour affair.

Andover New Street need just three more points to be sure of second place after Jay Mann, Nick Turpin, Matt Styles and Brendan Summers, with a spectacular 25-yarder, steered them to a 4-0 home win over Petersfield.

Veteran Colin Burdle fired two goals, one from 35 yards, as Hythe and Didben trjmmed Amesbury 5-2 at Jones Lane. Wayne Oakley and Mark Clothier had early goals cancelled out in a two-minute spell on half-time before Hythe regained control with the wind at their backs in the second half.

Division 1 leaders Farnborough North End slipped up 1-0 against last season's champions Hayling United, but Mottisfont improved their lead in Division 2 after Michael Jackson and Michael King scored in a 2-0 win at Yateley.

Most of the clubs directly underneath Motts had a bad day with Netley scoring first through John Allen but losing 2-1 at home to Durley and Romsey Town going down at 1-0 to Hamble Club.

Romsey's first defeat in eight games came after 17-year-old Sammy Wesson came on as substitute and scored with almost his first touch. Town's cause wasn't helped by having two players sent off although Chris Jones missed an early penalty for Hamble..

East Lodge have a habit of upsetting the top sides and did it again by beating a weakened Ordnance Survey 2-0.