Wessex Division One: Middleton shines in Colden Common’s win over Clanfield

Defender Sam Middleton bagged two goals as Colden Common moved into the top four with a 4-1 win over Clanfield

Ahead of the visit of the Clan, Steve Kings made seven changes from the side that took on Ash United.

The Stallions controlled the early stages of the opening stage.

Brad Lethbridge directed his header wide, before Owen Sims and Cam Stone combined on the right with new signing Joao Ferreira being found on the right, which saw his effort curled wide.

Despite their early dominance, former stallion Matty Rylance swung at a loose ball but his volley flew wide as Charlie Brook’s shot from a tight angle was denied by James Egeland-Jensen.

Colden Common came close to breaking the deadlock when Lethbridge made a darting run from right, which lead to Lethbridge’s shot deflected off Rylance’s attempted block and saw a quick save from Logan O’Donnell to keep the game level.

The chances kept coming for the Stallions. Cal Archer had two chances in quick succession to open the scoring, the former Fleetlands midfielder dragged his effort off target then two minutes he fired wide from close range. Ferreira’s strike was richoeted to the feet of Denny Adams but his ambitious effort from distance curled wide.

Clanfield could of took the lead when Kevin Bosaka won the ball off the pitch from Archer and made a powerful run and picked out Brook, but his low drive was blocked by Egeland-Jensen.

But seven minutes before half-time, the Stallions finally broke the deadlock. Lethbridge capitalised on Bailey Harkin’s lacklustre clearance and floated a cross to an unmarked Middleton, who fired his half-volley past keeper O’Donnell.

HT: Colden Common 1-0 Clanfield

It did not take long for Colden Common to find a second.

After a lovely run from Sims picked out Stone, who drove towards goal and found the back of the net.

Clanfield nearly responded immediately when Joe Briggs was threaded through outside the box but Egeland-Jensen palmed away his strike. But Five minutes later, the Clan were back into the game. A quick-counter attack was finished off by the former Winchester City winger Briggs – for his seventh goal of the season.

Despite some slight pressure from the Clan, Troy Wingfield’s foul on substitute Josh Bowerman saw the Stallions awarded a penalty with just over 20 minutes left to play. Lethbridge fired from the spot to restore Colden Common’s two goal lead, with the former Portsmouth midfielder bagging his third goal in the last five league games.

The chances kept coming as Lethbridge had shot from range and Jimmer Henderson’s attempt was blocked on the line.

In the last ten minutes of the game, Colden Common added a fourth and saw unlikely brace for Middleton. Will Erdinc flicked a loose ball to Lethbridge, who then found Middleton unmarked at the back post as he slotted through the legs of O’Donnell.

Colden Common believed Clanfield should of been reduced to ten men following Callum Stockley’s foul on defender Nathan Primus, who was operating as a striker, but the appeals were waved away and the Clan defender was given a yellow. An free-kick was awarded outside the box, Middleton stepped-up to seal the hat-trick but his strike was struck over the bar.

FT: Colden Common 4-1 Clanfield