OVERTON United will spend Christmas second in the Hampshire Premier League table after beating visiting Otterbourne 3-1 on Saturday.

The match was the only one in the division to be played but conditions were difficult, with a soggy pitch and a blustery wind.

The hosts were not at their best playing into the wind in the first half and conceded a sloppy goal after half-an-hour to trail at the break.

However, they improved in the second half, levelling in the early stages as substitute Ollie Bode, who manager Titch Bloomfield said “changed the game”, converted Chris Morris’ pass.

After that, the hosts continued to improve and they went ahead with around 20 minutes to go, Chris Lavisher, tucking away
Nathan Rae’s through-ball.

Bode then got his second of the game, scoring from another Morris pass to complete a good day for Overton, who are up to
second, just one point behind the leaders.

Bloomfield said: “We are not getting carried away but the league is a bit different this year because we do not have one team running away with it.

“It’s a lot more open and we are in the race but we have to make sure we take each game as it comes and see what happens.”

Overton were due to play local rivals AFC Aldermaston this weekend, but that game has been cancelled as Aldermaston’s league cup quarter-final against Baffins Milton Rovers, which was postponed on Saturday, will take place this week instead.

Instead, Overton will host Liss, a side they beat 2-0 on their own patch last month.

Bloomfield added: “Liss are a good side and it will be a tough game. We won’t take anything for granted but I would like to finish the year on a high with another win.”

The other north Hampshire sides were left frustrated by the wet weather on Saturday.

Hartley Wintney’s home game against Bedfont Sports, Whitchurch United’s home game against Bournemouth Poppies and Tadley Calleva’s trip to Andover New Street were all called off.

This Saturday, Hartley face a tough trip to local rivals Camberley in the Combined Counties Premier, while Whitchurch have two matches in the Wessex Premier.

They make the short trip to Alresford on Boxing Day before hosting Horndean on Saturday. Tadley travel to Ringwood
on Saturday.