OTTERBOURNE survived a first half red card to progress to the club’s first ever Hampshire Intermediate Cup final.

The Hampshire Premier League title hopefuls defeated Bournemouth Hayward League high fliers Bournemouth Electric 5-4 on spot-kicks after a 2-2 draw.

Electric fired their third penalty against the crossbar, with all the other penalties converted.

Tom Sands fired Otters ahead on 13 minutes, direct from a free-kick.

But on 28 minutes the hosts were reduced to ten men when Chris Mason was sent off.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, the Otters doubled their lead shortly after when Steve Hall dribbled past three defenders and scored from an acute angle.

Electric, unbeaten in their league all season – though they have only played nine games, compared to Otterbourne’s 22 – reduced the arrears 12 minutes from time through Tony Bellot. And they were level five minutes from time when Bellot’s cross was diverted into his own net by an Otters defender.

The victory was Otterbourne’s 14th successive win in all competitions, a run stretching back to mid November.

Hopes of a second successive all-HPL county Intermediate Cup final were dashed when Hedge End were thumped 3-0 in their semi final at Bournemouth Manor. The result was no surprise – Manor have won all 11 of their Bournemouth League games so far to top the table, while Hedge End are bottom of the HPL, albeit with a vast amount of games in hand.

Otterbourne still retain hopes of winning the HPL.They trail leaders Hamble Club by nine points, but do have three games in hand.