Higgins hat-tricks move Common up the table

Alresford Town 0, Colden Common 5

COLDEN Common moved up to second in the league with Dean Higgins hat-tricks the cornerstone of convincing victories at Alresford last Saturday and at home to Laverstock three days later.

The Alresford game was fairly even for the first 20 minutes, but then Common broke the deadlock. Joey Hinchliff played an early ball in from the right to Richard Lang, who laid it back for Higgins to drill home from just outside the box.

Alresford rallied briefly, Martin Jerams forcing visiting keeper Marc Cole into a good save, but there was no further scoring before the break.

The second half started with a cracking second goal from Higgins, which came after a corner at the other end. Cole launched his clearance downfield, and Higgins advanced to lob the home keeper in style.

Man-of-the-match Kevin O'Shea played a major part in the third goal, putting Hinchliff through. O'Shea's shot was parried, but Lang was on hand to tuck away the rebound.

Common introduced subs Chris Sanger, Simon Stillwell and Simon Everett, and Sanger soon made an impact. He scored Common's fourth from the edge of the box after excellent work from Jim Hart.

Alresford produced some good football, but their misery was complete when Higgins completed his hat-trick in bizarre fashion.

An Alresford defender appeared to block James Atterbury's shot with his hand; the home side hesitated, expecting the whistle to be blown. Higgins stroked the ball away, and the goal was allowed to stand.

Higgins' name in lights!

Dean Higgins produced another hat-trick on Tuesday night, when Common beat Laverstock 4-1 in the second and last of their home games under the lights of Whitchurch United's Longmeadow ground.

With 11 minutes gone Richard Lang unselfishly set up Higgins for his first after good work by Simon Stillwell down the right flank.

But Laverstock strikers Toby Giles and Dominic Male looked dangerous with the ball at their feet, and for a spell there was little to choose between two good, committed sides.

Giles' shot conveniently deflected into the bottom corner for the equaliser, but Higgins quickly restored Common's lead with a peach of a curling free-kick from just outside the box.

Immediately after half-time Higgins charged down keeper Liam McConnell's attempted clearance, and the ball trickled into the net to make it 3-1.

Although Laverstock still worked hard the confident handling of Marc Cole, who seemed untroubled by the strong wind, ensured there were no alarms for Common.

Joe Hodge added a fourth in injury time with a right-foot collector's item from the edge of the penalty area.

Common take on fellow Hampshire 1 side Paulsgrove at Main Road in a mouth-watering Hampshire Intermediate Cup semi-final this Saturday (2.30pm).

The winners will meet Southbourne or RS Basingstoke in the final.