Andover Town1–4○Andover New Street

When these two sides met in the League at the Portway earlier in the season, a classic local derby finished all square with Andover New Street equalising in the last minute so this re-match in the FA Vase was eagerly awaited by players and supporters alike. Both sides were forced in to changes with David Jerrard for Town and Ross Cook for New Street unavailable whilst the latter also had new signing Darryl Phillips making his debut following the departure of Luke Hooper

The game enjoyed an absolutely explosive start as Town gave the ball away in midfield and PHILLIPS went through to slot the ball past the advancing Jordan Brooks in the home goal after just twenty-eight seconds. Play became very much end to end, though the visitors looked the more threatening, with Waledin Ahmed wide for Town and Reece Rusher almost catching Brooks off his line in reply. Phillips seized on another loose ball but the shot was straight at the keeper, Rusher was too high with a free kick and Mikey Davis saw his shot saved as New Street enjoyed a spell of pressure before Ben Emans drove forward but Street goalkeeper Sean O’Brien claimed the cross in a crowded area. Matt Scott stopped the next Emans run with a well timed tackle in the area but the half finished with the visitors on the front foot with Davis denied by the keeper’s legs before Phillips collected the first caution of the game after an aerial challenge.

Having conceded a goal in the opening minute of the first half, Town nearly scored themselves inside sixty seconds as the game restarted, clever play by Josh Berti taking him in to the area before weight of numbers proved too much. A Danny Field cross was headed over his own bar by a home defender before New Street replaced the limping Max Allen with Joe Rogers and then doubled their lead after just six minutes. The second of two corners was not dealt with by the defence and MIKEY DAVIS fired high in to the net from close range. O’Brien had to race from his area to clear an underhit back pass before within three minutes of goal number two New Street made it three. A long clearance from Scott was neatly turned in to PHILLIPS’s path by Shane Lock and the shot from some fifteen yards flew in to the top corner giving Brooks no chance. An undignified spat between Rusher and Emans earned them both a booking and the home side seemed to lose their composure and found themselves four down after seventeen minutes. An up and under clearance by Scott was completely missed by a home defender and PHILLIPS gratefully and skilfully lobbed the ball over the stranded Brooks. O’Brien made the save of the afternoon in tipping a thunderbolt from Brendan Holmes round the angle of cross and bar before Nathan Primus was booked for kicking the ball at Rusher after bringing him down. On another afternoon it could have been red. The area round the dugouts resembled a mini Blackpool Illuminations as the Substitute Boards introduced a host of replacements that both slowed down and took the sting out of the game which drifted in to stoppage time before bursting in to life again. There appeared little danger as HOLMES collected the ball outside the area but his low drive found the corner of the net to reduce the deficit though it was a case of too little, too late and the afternoon’s honours and local bragging rights went to New Street along with a place in the next round.

Town will no doubt feel disappointed that their display did not match their recent form but Street certainly deserved their win. Field greatly nullified the threat of Emans and Lewis Alderman and Scott gave Town’s leading scorer Josh Berti an unrewarding afternoon. Phillips had a dream debut and the hard work of the midfield trio meant that Holmes, very much the catalyst and inspiration for the home side, could not impose himself on the game. An attendance of just under 300 was gratifying and that despite the local paper declining to promote or report on the game.

Andover New Street now await Monday's draw.