GOALS from Dan Houseman and Chris Lavisher secured Overton United a place in the semi-finals of the Hampshire Premier League Cup with a 2-0 victory away at Paulsgrove on Saturday.

Overton were surprised that their hosts managed to get the game on but found the pitch to be in decent condition despite the recent wet weather.

However, the visitors did have to play into the teeth of a very strong wind during the first half. They defended resolutely, keeping Paulsgrove at bay to ensure that the match was goal-less at the break.

With the wind at their backs, Overton were dominant in the second half and got a deserved goal on 60 minutes. Myles Englefield chased a lost cause, put a defender under pressure and forced him into a clumsy tackle, winning his side a penalty, which Dan Houseman converted.

The lead was doubled 10 minutes later. Chris Lavisher picked up the ball 40 yards from the Paulsgrove goal and, spotting the goalkeeper off his line, produced an excellent chip to make it 2-0.

The hosts pushed forward late on but Overton were able to keep them at arm’s length to record a well-earned win.

Manager Titch Bloomfield said: “It was a good win and I was really pleased with the lads. We had a few players out but the guys we brought in did well and we had to play some people in positions they were unaccustomed to.

“We had to weather the storm at times but we deserved the victory. We rolled our sleeves up and ground out a victory.”

Overton’s trip to Tadley Calleva in the Basingstoke Senior Open Cup, which was due to take place this evening, has fallen victim to the wet weather.

Next up for Bloomfield’s men, who sit second in the Hampshire Premier League, is a trip to ninth-placed AFC Stoneham on Saturday.

“We have got another tough one on Saturday but we just need to keep plugging away and see what happens,” Bloomfield added. “We have some big games coming up and just have to hope that we do not get any injuries to key players.”

Tadley are due to travel to Amesbury Town, who sit just below them in the Wessex League Division One table, on Saturday.