Game 30: Overton United 3.0 Colden Common (Hampshire Premier) 20.04.13

I had originally planned to go to Sutton United today but the return of the summer weather lead to a rethink and I decided to visit Overton United, my first trip to a Hampshire Premier league ground.

The ground was easy to find in the centre of the village with the local church as a landmark to aim for. There was a small carpark just inside the gate adjacent to the pitch. The pitch was roped off with a building for changing rooms and refreshments to the right hand side. Both teams came out early with the referee and the game kicked off just before 3 o'clock.

It did not take too long for the first goals of the game. In the 6th minute Overton won a corner and the ball was floated towards the back post. The Colden Common keeper misjudged the flight of the ball and it went past him. Two players jumped at the backpost and a light touch from the defender's head put the ball in.

Colden Common had a couple of free kicks but both entered up flying well over the crossbar and into the car park, luckily away from my car. In the 20th minute Overton won a throw in on the left hand side. The long throw found its way into the area where a quick thinking Overton player got his head onto the ball and put it past the keeper who was scrambling across to cover his far post.

A few minutes later Colden Common missed an excellent opportunity to get back into the game. There was a small scramble in the box and the ball deflected back to a player who just had the goalkeeper to beat. From short range he put his shot over the bar as the keeper rushed out to close him down.

The game remained fairly even and Colden Common continued to create chances. On the half hour another free kick was hit over the crossbar and moments later Overton's defence gifted Colden Common an opportunity to get back into the game. A player turned to give a pass but haven't noticed a Colden Common player on his shoulder who won the ball from him easily before heading into the penalty area. Only a superb saving tackle from a covering defender from getting a shot away. Colden Common made another couple of chances before half time but the home keeper made some good saves and they were unable to make the most of the opportunities that arose.

At half time I went into the building to get some refreshments. At the counter I found an A4 programme available with details about events at the club and recent fixtures.

Both teams were out early for the second half which kicked off a few minutes before four. In a similar story to the first half it was fairly even in terms of chances. In the 52nd minute two Colden shots were well saved by the keeper, one with his legs and the follow-up shot with his hands. A long ball from the Overton keeper almost created a goal as it bounced just outside the area. The Colden keeper came off second best as he challenged for the ball but the Overton player misjudged his shot with the goal wide open and put it wide.

In the 81st minute Colden Common came very close to scoring a great goal from the edge of the area. The ball flew just past the post with the keeper at full stretch. With a few minutes to go Overton wrapped the game up. A well placed pass put the ball through the middle and from the breakaway an Overton player ran through and placed a shot low past the keeper and in.

Checking the league tables later it appeared to be a shock result for lowly Overton as 3rd placed Colden Common had only lost two games in the league before today.