Andover Town7–1Paulsgrove

Andover Town reserved their semi-final place in the Russell Cotes Cup following this comfortable victory against their Hampshire Premier league opponents Paulsgrove. In the previous round Paulsgrove had defeated Southern League Moneyfields but once Andover opened their account there was little chance of a shock result in this match with Andover scoring all seven in a twenty two minute spell either side of half time.

In the opening twenty minutes there was little to chose between the two sides.The visitors were first to have an effort on target whilst Andover’s best opportunity's fell to George Hallahan and Jason Silver before they finally started scoring with twenty five minutes gone. Reece Rusher set up Mike Gosney for the first and within a minute Jason Silver fired in the second after a long unchallenged run. Jason Silver also claimed the third goal heading in from close range following Gosney’s astute corner. Three minutes later Reece Rusher made space before firing in a volley that struck a post but fortunately the ricochet came back to him and this time there was no mistake. Two minutes before the interval George Hallahan made it five following excellent interplay between Gosney and Silver. In time added at the end of the first half Ben Cook unselfishly set up Mike Gosney for his second and the teams sixth.

Half time - Andover Town 6-0 Paulsgrove

During the interval the Andover faithful debated the possibility of a double figure score line. When just after the restart Jason Silver scored the seventh to complete his hat trick that remained an option. However that proved to be Andover’s final goal of the evening as with important league games on the horizon they they took their foot off the accelerator. The tempo of the match visibly dropped before Paulsgrove were award a penalty when Brendon Holmes was adjudged to handled the ball. The decision looked harsh with one wag in the crowd suggesting that the referee was feeling sorry for the hard working but out of luck visitors. Luke Cairney saved but could not hold the spot kick and subsequent rebound but when the ball came in for a third time there was little he could do to prevent the goal. So Andover are in the hat for the semi-final draw alongside AFC Stoneham, Fareham Town and either AFC Totton or Fleet Town.