LISS Athletic earned the bragging rights after beating local rivals Liphook United 2-1 in their pre-Christmas East Hampshire derby.

The two sides met in the Hampshire Premier League on December 23 in front of a crowd of around 150.

The first 20 minutes were fast and furious, with Jake Warlow heading a corner just wide for the hosts. Liphook had the ball in the net twice, but were denied both times by an offside flag.

However, they took the lead on 23 minutes when a long ball found Ryan Angear on the edge of the penalty area and he hit a controlled volley into the net.

Liss stepped up the pressure after the break and Warlow’s powerful shot was cleared off the line.

On 73 minutes Connor Messenbird won the ball on the left before cutting inside, beating two defenders and the keeper and then finishing coolly for the equaliser.

The winner came on 89 minutes when a corner wasn’t cleared properly and Jake?Daniels hammered in the rebound off a defender.

This Saturday, Liphook host Infinity in the Hampshire Intermediate Cup and Liss Athletic are home to Stockbridge in the league.

Clanfield went into Christmas in fifth place in the Premier Division following their 3-2 home defeat against Infinity on December 23.

Owen Milne and Josh Hazell got on the scoresheet for Clanfield but a double from Dan Phillips and one for Filipos Terzidis secured the three points for the visitors.

Clanfield host Overton United Reserves in the Hampshire Intermediate Cup this Saturday.