Clanfield 5

CLANFIELD put on a super show to defeat previously unbeaten Colden Common in their round 2 tie of the Hampshire Intermediate Cup on Saturday.

They set out their intentions from the whistle. In the fourth minute Mike Prew opened the scoring when he slotted home from 15 yards, latching onto a bad kick out from the Colden keeper.

This put the home side on the back foot, as Clanfield attacked in waves. In the first 20 minutes Clanfield went close on four occasions, with the Commoners keeper making a series of excellent saves.

Common then levelled on 20 minutes, capitalising on a mix-up, to stab the ball into an empty net from eight yards out.

This didn't seem to deter Clanfield and within four minutes they were back in front with a fine move, which started with Darren Ferguson attacking down the right with pace. His through ball found Harry Potter on the edge of the area and he beat two players to cross for Prew to side-foot in his second.

With the home side reeling, Ollie Todd should have made it three but his shot from four yards went straight into the keeper's arms. Colden Common could think themselves lucky to still be in the tie at the break after a super 45 minutes from the visitors, but Clanfield had missed many chances.

Within two minutes of the restart Clanfield scored their third. Darren Ferguson picked the ball up on the halfway line and raced through the Colden defence to fire past the onrushing keeper from 10 yards, with the home crowd applauding Ferguson's fine solo effort.

On the hour-mark Clanfield's lone striker Harry Potter then got into the act scoring the fourth. This was another fine goal, Potter hitting an unstoppable 18-yard shot into the bottom corner.

The home side then had their best spell of the whole game and pegged the score back to 4-3 with two quick goals. With their tails up Common thought they could get back into the game, but in the 80th minute Clanfield sealed the win when Todd's free-kick was headed home by the Commoners' centre-half.

Clanfield manager Rob Coldrick said: "This was the best display all season and this with a much-changed side through injuries and unavailability. Colden Common were unbeaten so far this season and we ripped them apart with our attacking football. The lads did just what Tony Adams and I asked of them.

"We had such a young side out but they all played with no fear and took the game to them from the start. With players coming back into contention in the next few weeks we are going to have some nice headaches with team selection."

This Saturday Clanfield travel to Bournemouth University in the league (3pm).

Clanfield: Wiseman, Eyre, Buckley, Gurney, Pettit, Cooke, Ferguson, Todd, Potter, Templer, Prew; subs: Beswick, Southall, Brown.