Brockenhurst 0–2 Andover Town

On a chilly afternoon in the New Forest Andover Town recorded a comfortable 2-0 over Brockenhurst with a goal in the first half from Connor Cocklin and a penalty won and scored by Mike Gosney in the second half. This was Andover's fifth consecutive away fixture and it will be good to see them back home again at the Portway on Tuesday evening against Bemerton Heath Harlequins. Andover made only one change from the team which started last Saturday with captain Liam Hibberd making a welcome return from injury and Alex Dockree dropping down to the bench. Andover started smoothly playing controlled possession football and came close to scoring in the 8th minute when Joe Chamberlain hit a fierce drive from 30 yards out which fizzed just over the crossbar and after several corners in quick succession Connor Cocklin opened the scoring in the 16th minute when he forced the ball home from a couple of yards out following yet another Mike Gosney corner. The first half proceeded with little or no threat from Brockenurst and Andover went in at half time with a comfortable but narrow lead and the old cliché of one goal never being enough over felt true enough. Cocklin was booked for dissent on 40 minutes and unfortunately, with the exception of a handball from Andover and a foul from Brockenhurst, all the other several bookings on both sides came from dissent. An unsatisfactory state affairs and it’s easy to criticize an over zealous referee when what is being said to him on the pitch can’t be overheard.

Half time Brockenhurst 0-1 Andover Town

The second half continued with Andover playing in the same controlled fashion and Luke Cairney remained a virtual spectator. On 61 minutes and after a terrific run down the left wing Mike Gosney cut inside into the penalty area, was unceremoniously upended and the resultant penalty award was a very easy decision for the referee to take. Gosney stepped up to the spot and coolly stroked the penalty into the bottom left corner sending the keeping the wrong way. At 2-0 up Andover continued their dominance and it wasn’t until the half hour of the half that Cairney was called into action when a decent break from Brockenurst set up a chance which narrowly went past the right hand upright. Mindful perhaps of yet another mid week fixture towards the end of the second half George Hallahan, Manny Soetan and Zach Glasspool were replaced within a few minutes by Ben Cook, Reece Rusher and McAulie Stubbs respectively. All in all a convincing win by Andover, maintaining their clear lead at the top of the table and interestingly enough recording their first clean sheet for 13 matches.