Andover Town 2–0 Amesbury Town

It is often said that a good team who play badly but win are still a good team. This was however not a really bad performance more one that was below par, and the points were not fully secured until Mike Gosney scored his second goal of the evening just before the end of normal time. No doubt Amesbury Town felt they deserved at least a share of the points whilst the more knowledgeable amongst the Andover faithful felt that the Town had one eye on Saturday’s important cup tie.

During the opening exchanges Andover, twice and the visitors once, found the back of the net but all three where correctly ruled out for offside. Both goalkeepers were kept busy with Paddy Crease the Amesbury keeper the more active. With around twenty minutes gone Reece Rusher inside the centre circle spotted Crease way off his line and Crease must have breathed a sigh of relief as Rusher’s quick thinking volley drifted just wide of the post. Andover saw this as a sign to lever up the pressure. A Zach Glasspool header hit a post, Crease did well to control a stinging drive by Rusher and several attempts were cleared off the line. When they turned defence into attack Amesbury were always a threat but the final touch let them down. Finally five minutes before the break Reece Rusher’s immaculate cross reached an unmarked Mike Gosney who clinically scored from a sharp angle.

Half time - Andover Town 1-0 Amesbury Town

If Andover were marginally the better side in the first half then Amesbury again marginally assumed that mantle in the second. They kept Andover under pressure but Jordan Matthews squandered a great chance to bring his side back on level terms.At the other end Adam Pearson had a good goal ruled out following an infringement elsewhere in the area, before Liam Gilbert became the third player to strike the woodwork. With ten minutes left Amesbury’s Kieran Stephens twenty five yards out sent in a peach of a volley that was heading for the top corner but Lloyd Thomas stretched high to superbly palm the ball away. The visitors had two further but wasted chances before Andover got the decider. Jason Silver received the ball just inside the opposition half, he held off a couple of challenges before passing to Mike Gosney who made no mistake.

Andover Town now have a break from league action with their next four games being cup ties starting with the Emirates F.A.Cup visit of Cadbury Heath.