Andover New Street v Andover Town - E Programme 2022-23

At Hysons, Chartered Accountants in Andover, we believe in tailoring our solutions to best suit your key financial decisions. We provide a comprehensive range of services, focusing on three key areas: personal, charity, and business finance.

Our clients represent a wide spectrum of structures, from corporate accounting to not-forprofit financial support. We aim to take away the stress of financial burdens such as tax, accounting and audit compliance work, allowing them to focus on business development.

CLUB OFFICIALS

President: Nick Richmond

Vice President: Brian Funnel

Chairman: Martin Tobin

Football Chairman: John Ward

Executive Committee Members: Paul Reidy, Steve Cox, Fiona Tobin, Ady Burdock, Kevin Pipkin, Amanda Cox, Les Hillon, George Harrison, Andy Welfare

First Team Manager: Jamie Coleman

First Team Assistant Manager: Ashleigh James

First Team Coach: Jamie Dockree

Head Of Goalkeeping: Alex Thompson

Head Of Medical: Pete Tunney

Physiotherapist: Josh Oatly

Kit Man: Ken Hardy

Club Secretary: Kerry Tobin

House Chairman: Jim Wilson

Treasurer: Amanda Cox

Membership Officer: Kerry Tobin

Swifts Chairman: Paul Reidy

Swifts Secretary: Stephen Leighton

Swifts Manager: Robbie Skeates

Swifts Assistant Managers: Stephen Leighton & Ryan Facey

Ladies Manager: Kyla Tobin

Sponsorship Chairman: Paul Reidy

Media Manager: Kevin Pipkin

Website Designer: Chris Robins

WORD

Made in Andover.

Edited by Kevin Pipkin (programme.editor.andovernewstreetfc@outlook.com)

Photography by Andy Ormerod & Kevin Pipkin

Thanks to contributors: John Ward, Jamie Coleman, John Gorman, Neil Jensen and Sam Emery.

The views in this programme are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the editor and/or Andover New Street.

ANDOVER

THE MANAGER

Good afternoon and a very warm welcome to Foxcotte Park for what I know is the most eagerly anticipated fixture of the season.

We know today’s game will be a tough challenge and to their manager Ron Bertie, I extend the welcome to, along with his squad and all that have made the shortest journey to the game today.

Since we were last at home, nearly a month ago, we continued our promotion push with hard-fought victory over Millbrook. The scoreline may have read 6-1, but we were fortunate at times, after making a great start Ben Rodwell had to make a couple of crucial saves at 2-1 and we also had to weather the storm with ten men, when Scotty Hassell was sin binned!

Credit to the players as they kept going and took our opportunities when Millbrook were reduced to ten, shortly after Scotty returned to the field. Cooky continued his fine goalscoring form and Mikey Davis completed the scoring with a fine free kick late on.

We then travelled to Folland Sports, who have always made life difficult for us over the last few seasons. This time was a totally different story with the lads putting in one of the best displays of the season. We were dominant from start to finish and perhaps could have had even more than the five goals scored that evening.

We then travelled to Amesbury and put in a good performance, despite losing Paddy to a red card, with Macca proving to be an excellent back-up keeper.

A 1-1 draw at Petersfield was a fair result, although we were disappointed to concede from a set play from Petersfield’s only real opportunity. We have then picked up maximum points from trips to Ash United and Tuesdays visit to Fleetlands.

Results elsewhere have seen us move to the top of the table and that’s where I want us to stay for the remainder of the season.

We still have some way to go, starting with this afternoon’s match, The chasing pack won’t give up the fight and so won’t we.

We would not be in this position without the support of our sponsors, and I’d like to welcome them all here today and thank them for their continued support.

You know that you will play a huge part this afternoon as our 12th man. Let’s make the ground rock, give it everything you’ve got, and I can guarantee you that every player in our squad and all the staff will be doing exactly the same. Enjoy the game.

WE WOULD NOT BE IN THIS POSITION WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF OUR SPONSORS AND I’D LIKE TO WELCOME THEM ALL HERE TODAY AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT.

FACT FILE

NICKNAME: Town

STADIUM: Portway Stadium

CAPACITY: 3,000

LEAGUE POSITION 21-22: 6th Wessex League One

MANAGER: Ron Bertie

MILES FROM ANDOVER: 3 miles

LAST MEETING: Foxcotte Park, 27/12/22, 3-0 in League One

TOWN ALAN MUSSELL, 1944-2023

We would like to dedicate our coverage of today’s visitors to Alan Mussell, affectionately known as ‘Mr Andover’, Alan had been heavily involved in football, and particularly, Andover Town, since visiting the Walled Meadow in the 50s as a young supporter. Over a significant period of time, Alan grew from a spectator to someone heavily involved in the club as a committee member, Chairman and Owner. He always fondly recalled the glory days of the old Andover playing in the Southern League as well as recounting their many successes in the Wessex League.

During the more troubling period of Andover’s history in the teens when the club was engulfed with financial problems, Alan fought determinedly to help the club survive. Eventually, they succumbed to the pressures despite his best efforts. On the news that the club would be resurrected in its new version as Andover Town, Alan’s enthusiasm was such that he was able to guide the club to almost immediate success. He was the bridge from the old to the new. He was a man who deeply believed in the traditional values often lacking in modern day football – honesty, integrity, loyalty. He was someone who walked the Portway at every home game welcoming visitors to the club and ensuring they enjoyed the game they were watching. To those who volunteer at the club, he gave all his time to making them feel welcomed and supported. His untimely passing is a sad reminder of how precious life is. We all thought Alan was immortal. He will live on in the memories of those that knew him, but Andover is a poorer place without him. Quite simply, he was Mr Andover.

Founded in 2013, the Town play at the Portway Stadium and sit 11th in the Wessex League One table, on 53 points. Managed by Ron Bertie, the Town had a decent start to the season, although they do lack consistency with 16 wins, 5 draw and 12 defeats from their 33 games. Although promotion is beyond them this season, they will be looking to finish the season as strong as possible.

Welcome to our visitors for today’s game at Foxcotte Park

THE GOALKEEPER: DAN McCARTHY

Young keeper, who re-signed for Town this season and has come into the side since the end of January after regular number one Karl Steinborn-Busse sustained a serious leg injury against Folland Sports.

McCarthy started with Salisbury at the age of 12 and made his first team debut at the age of 17, coming on as a late substitute in a pre-season friendly against Swindon Town.

THE DEFENDER: GARY THORNE

Defender, who needs no introduction to Street fans. Thorne has made 136 appearances for the Street over eight seasons, including gaining promotion in 2017-18 and also scoring the winning penalty in the North Hants Senior Cup Final against Tadley Calleva in the same season.

Thorne joined Town in February 2023 and has made 6 appearances to date.

THE MANAGER: RON BERTIE

Bertie has experience in the professional game, both as a player and coach, with his most recent experiences gained at AFC Bournemouth. Bertie is a fully licensed UEFA B coach and has an expertise to develop talent.

Now in his 5th season as Town manager, Bertie has seen steady progression each season with the Town narrowly missing out on the Play-Offs last season, being pipped by eventual winners Laverstock & Ford. Bertie has seen his side reach the League Cup SemiFinals – narrowly missing out to Baffins Milton Rovers on penalties at the Portway.

THE MIDFIELDER: BRENDAN HOLMES

Club captain, can play in midfield or in defence. One of the most experienced players in Ron Berties side. A very good dead ball specialist and has scored some important goals for Town over the years – including the winner in the 3-2 defeat of Fleetlands this season.

Holmes has played 170 times for the Town and scored 23 goals in the six seasons at the Portway.

THE STRIKER: RYAN GRIFFITHS

Young striker, who made an instant hit with Town, when he signed in January 2022, by scoring 14 goals in 14 starts, including two hat-tricks.

This season started brightly with a hat-trick against Whitchurch but has been out of the side since Christmas and only just got back into the side last month.

WATCH

OUT FOR… BEN

EMANS

Emans has made 143 appearances for the Town in five seasons.

He joined the club in 2018-19 and quickly became a regular in the starting line-up. A quick and tricky winger, Emans also has an eye for goal and has scored 39 goals for the Town to date and is just one goal behind his best season, which was last season with 14 goals.

He scored in the 32nd minute to give Town the lead in the 6-4 defeat to Street in the North Hants Cup back in September.

LAST TIME AT

THE FOXCOTTE

STREET 1 TOWN 1

22nd March 2022, Wessex League 1

Words: John Gorman

The Street came into this massive derby on the back of a 13-match unbeaten league run, which had them pushing for the league title. They were four points behind league leaders Bemerton Heath Harlequins with two games in hand.

Town were also in the promotion hunt, two points further behind the Street on 66 points but having also played the same number of matches. Town were also mindful of the Wiltshire sides, Downton and Laverstock & ford that were creeping up behind them and threatening their 5th place position, which was the final place in the league play-offs.

The importance of the fixture attracted an incredible attendance of 570, the largest recorded at Foxcotte Park

There was a scrappy start to the game with the pace frantic and in the first action of note in the visiting half. Mikey Davis found Shane Lock, but the shot was blocked and then won a corner that came to nothing before keeper Karl Steinborne Busse saved bravely at Ross Cook’s feet as the striker broke clear. Cook was too high with another effort, and a Joe Wright cross was held under the crossbar before Town’s first attack of note ended with a Ryan Griffiths shot that was saved by home keeper Jordi Wilson at full stretch.

Andover New Street::

Wilson, Rogers, Wright, James, Pearson,?

Hibberd, Lawton, Rusher, Davis, Lock, Cookk

Andover Town::

Steinborn-Busse, Pattison A, Primus, Ebireri,?

Higgins, Holmes, Watson, Ritchie, Pattison T,? Emans, Griffithsk

The home side were looking the more dangerous and Nathan Primus collected the first booking of the evening for pulling back Davis after he had broken clear, with Harry Lawton too high with a header from the resulting free kick. The dangerous Griffiths was then stopped by weight of numbers before the half ended with another Town defensive block denying Reece Rusher.

Town made a change at the break with Owen Trapnell coming into the back line and it was his side that made the early running. Brendan Holmes had a shot charged down before Holmes smacked the free kick against the bar though Wilson’s fingers may have got a touch. That was the closest to a goal and was quickly equalled at the other end when Cook struck the post from a narrow angle after a clever Liam Hibberd pass created the opportunity. Seventeen minutes in and the deadlock was broken as the home side made ground down the left through Joe Wright with the cross headed back across the area for Cook to volley home off the inside of the post.

The lead was only to last for five minutes as Town in turn broke down their left and Tom Pattison’s low cross evaded all in the area allowing the unmarked Adam Pattison to beat Wilson at the far post. Back to square one with neither side prepared to shut up shop and both looking for the winner, but the pace of the game was taking its toll with some tired limbs and misplaced passes on both sides. Wilson saved well from Adam Pattison, the midfield battle continued unabated, and the Town goalmouth survived one or two hectic scrambles but there were no clearcut chances and the final whistle came with honours even.

Under the spotlight is a play with a connection to both the Street and today’s visitor’s, with programme editor KEVIN PIPKIN looking back at their first and last appearances for the Street.

Jason started at Gosport Borough in August 2011. A clever winger/forward, who made a name for himself as a scorer of important goals. Jason would not stay long at Borough and would move onto Petersfield in July 2012.

He stayed at Love Lane for three seasons, making 25 appearances and scoring 15 goals, a move to Whitchurch United in 2016 would again be brief and he only made 2 appearances for the Jam Boys and scored the one goal.

Silver then made a move to Andover Town, where he made 38 appearances as the Portway side led the Wessex Premier division for most of the season, only to be pipped to the title late on by a single point to Blackfield & Langley. Silver contributed 13 goals that season with the Town winning the Russell Cotes Cup thanks to a 1-0 win over AFC Stoneham.

Jason then had short stints at Alresford Town and Hamble Club but never really settled and Street manager John Smith lured Silver to Foxcotte Park in July 2019.

Smith knew what he was getting, and Silver proved invaluable as he netted eight goals, mainly from right wing, as the Street battled for promotion with US Portsmouth. Unfortunately Covid-19 cut short the Street’s progress and Silver moving away from the area.

FIRST GAME

ANDOVER NEW STREET 1 US PORTSMOUTH 1. (3/8/19)

Jason Silver, making his Street debut on the opening day of the season, when he came on as a second half substitute, saw the Street succumb to a 1-1 draw.

The Portsmouth outfit scored late on, after Luke Hooper had given the Street a deserved lead, on a humid afternoon.

LAST GAME

ANDOVER NEW STREET 0 ALTON 0. (14/3/20)

A score-line that would ultimately deny Street promotion the following season, when the Points Per Game system would average out the points over two seasons and Alton would pip Street into the third and final promotion slot.

Street create several chances in a tight affair with then 6th placed Alton delighted to return with a point. This game proved to be Silver’s last in the green and black as the Covid outbreak would call a halt to the season.

JASON SILVER

After that win, results significantly improved, with positive results at Hamworthy, Tadley Calleva and Portland United.

The opportunity to defend the North Hants Cup provided the Street with a distraction from the league pressures and pitted them against local rivals Andover Town in the quarterfinals

Town had finished runners-up in the Wessex Premier the previous season but declined promotion to the Southern League, which resulted in their demotion to the Wessex League One.

MEMORY MATCH

Andover Town 0 Street 5

North Hants Senior Cup QF 27th November 2018

WORDS: JOHN GORMAN

STREET:

Baxter, Wilson (Hine), Le Brun, Allen, Alderman, Pollard, Lock, Coleman, Lewis, Sweeney, Herbert

ANDOVER TOWN:

Tasker, Keogh (Lunness), Smith (Ihunan-ya), Holmes, Trapnell (Ahmed), Thorne, Ragguette, Watson, Turpin, Gwengwe, Bertie (Mawo)

Following the previous season’s successful promotion to the Wessex Premier, the Street were struggling at the bottom of the league. Cup wins, which included a 2-1 win over a Portsmouth Development side in the Hampshire Cup, could not be transformed into the league with the first league victory not coming until a 2-0 win over Hamble Club in early October.

The game went ahead on an ideal playing surface after some rarther unnecessary confusion in the late afternoon regarding the game being postponed. Seemingly this did not affect the attendance very much, if at all, with close on one hundred and fifty present to see a game in which the scoreline was a fair outcome.

On a dry but misty evening the visitors made the better start with Shane Lock – a constant threat throughout on the left flank – having a header saved and a volley following a free kick rebounding off a defender – who knew little about it -for a corner. Both sides had attacks halted by the offside flag before the first goal came after just ten minutes. A clearance by goalkeeper George Baxter was deftly headed on by Callum Sweeney into Kylen Lewis’s path and with the defence caught square the tall striker rounded Dave Tasker and slid the ball into the empty net.

A dangerous free kick from Andover’s Jordan Raguette found no takers in the box and at the other end Tasker was forced to go down at Lewis’s feet after the defence had again been caught square. The home side’s first chance came when Dean Smith broke down the left and a clever dummy by Nic Turpin left Shaquile with a shooting chance which Baxter saved at the expense of a corner. Tasker was again forced to leave his area, this time to deny Lock, and two efforts from Josh Bertie at the other end raised hope for the home side only for New Street to increase their lead fifteen minutes before the break.

Zac Hine, who had earlier replaced Josh Wilson in an injury enforced substitution, slid the ball through the middle, the defence parted like the Red Sea and Shane Lock’s cool finish made it two-nil. Town’s response was immediate with Smith and Bertie working their way down the left and Raguette bundling the ball past Baxter from the cross but the yellow flag in the mist on the far side meant it all counted for nothing. Lewis was then caught offside at the other end when had he looked across the line he would have been clear, and the last action of the half saw a Lock shot deflected for a corner.

Already two goals to the good the game looked to be moving in the visitors favour and two more goals in the opening fifteen minutes of the second half simply confirmed same. Lock and Lewis contrived a chance for Sweeney, but the midfielder scuffed his shot before something of a rarity with the third goal coming directly from a corner. The mist in the corner diagonally opposite the Clubhouse now had the consistency of fog and when New Street were awarded a corner on that side the ball came out of the fog, cleared everybody in the six-yard box, and finished high inside the far post. Enquiries to the bench confirmed Shane Lock as the scorer.

Goal number four came when the referee allowed advantage after a challenge on Lewis, the striker continued, and his low cross was turned in by Zach Hine. Sweeney had a shot blocked but the midway point of the half saw goal number five.

The fog had now reverted to light mist on the far side and a cross from that area, pulled back to the edge of the area, was met first time by Jamie Pollard, the ball beating Tasker’s despairing dive and nestling in the corner of the net. As Andover at least sought a consolation a superb and powerful volley from Turpin from outside the area was beaten away by Baxter – the force of same knocked him over – and the keeper then made a double save from Brendon Holmes, but it was too little too late and the game finished with a Lock header that was too high and a Sweeney effort saved by a combination of goalkeeper and defender.

Given that Andover New Street are in the Premier Division and Andover at the foot of Division One the outcome was as expected but Andover did not help themselves defensively on the night, Their defence was too frequently caught square – though in fairness they received little protection from the midfield in front of them – and New Street were simply quicker in thought and deed.

Back row (left to right): John Smith (Manager), Collins, Scott, Lock, Baxter, Warshow, Marriner, Allen, Wilson, Ken Hardy (Kit Man), Jude Fleet (Physio)

Front row (left to right): Iain Meechan (Assistant Manager), Pollard, Hine, Sweeney, Coleman, Rusher, Le Brun, Rae, Georgiou

Photo: The Street management team of John Smith and Iain Meechan line up with their boys after successfully retaining the North Hants Senior Cup at the Camrose with a 3-2 win over Alresford Town.

STREET TALES

WITH KEVIN PIPKIN PROGRAMME EDITOR

Street’s Prince Xhamela battles with Andover Town’s Michael Dixon during the 2-0 Town win at Foxcotte Park in March 2014

A MIXED RECORD AGAINST THE BLUES

Today’s visitors, Andover Town, were elected to the Wessex Football League in 2013, after reforming, following the demise of Andover.

The Blues, managed by Neil Benson took to the task of achieving promotion in their first season and quickly opened up a 4-point lead at the top of the League One table in late October.

Our first meeting in the league arrived on 26th October 2013 at Town’s temporary home of Winklebury Complex. The Street were three-nil down inside half an hour but Matt Styles’s side took the game to Town

and with the help of two identical own goals, all but snatched a point

The Town took an early lead, when in the 9th minute a Claudio Herbert corner was flicked on by Alex Dockree and Lewis Benson arrived late to tuck the ball away from almost on the goaline.

Shortly later, Herbert slung in another long cross and Ryan Inskip arrived to make it 2-0. The Town were well on top and it made it 3-0 when Jordon O’Donnell found room to provide a long cross over keeper Dave Tasker and Michael Dixon just needed it to hit him on the far post for his eighth of the season.

Street manager Matt Styles rang the changes at halftime, with Tommy Gentleman and Ryan Hethershaw replaced, with Prince Xamela coming on and Dave Cotter pushed further up

the pitch and within minutes they had a toe hold on the game as Cotter’s cross shot deflected off Lloyd Foot and wrong-footed Town keeper Jake Wellesley-David. Then on 66 minutes it was 3-2. Bizarrely it was an identical own goal as Cotter again shot across the goal and Foot deflected it past Wellesley-David.

Unfortunately for Street, despite having the home defence at full stretch, it was Town who took the points.

The return was played the following March, with the Street struggling in the bottom two of the division and were on an eight-game losing streak, however, results were improving with promotion chasing Tadley Calleva, only winning 2-0 at Foxcotte, compared to a few of the hammerings the young Street side were enduring a few games previous. This was to be expected with Street only able to name 13 players in the squad, with second choice keeper, 17 year-old Tom Crozier up front alongside 16 year-old Charlie Waite.

To rub salt into the wounds further it was two ex-Street players that scored the goals to keep Town 12 points clear of Petersfield Town in the race for the League One title.

The crowd of 150 had barely settled when the home defence gifted the ball to Oli Yates, and he had little trouble in beating Dave Tasker to make it 1-0 inside two minutes.

Town’s Dixon would later see his penalty and rebound saved by Tasker, after Xhamela had handled in the area. The crucial second goal came in the second half when Alex Dockree fed Lewis Alderman and his low shot just crept inside the far post.

The Town would eventually finish runners-up to Petersfield but still gain promotion to the Wessex Premier, while the Street would finish in 15th place, above East Cowes Vic’s and level on points with Hayling United.

The next competitive fixture between the two sides would be in the 2015/16 season, when the teams would be paired together in the Wessex League Cup.

The Street had made an impressive start and were undefeated in their first four matches, before a run of 8 defeats including defeats in the Hants Senior, FA Vase, Salisbury Hospitals and North Hants Cups.

A 3-2 home win over Fleet Spurs, gave the Street some confidence going into the encounter with their rivals. The gulf in class however was made clear early on when Michael Dixon opened the scoring on 7 minutes.

It was 2-0 on 20 minutes when Pekun latched onto Gilbert’s defence splitting pass and controlled immaculately before slotting round Street keeper Dave Tasker. Alex Dockree would get the third goal, seven minutes later, when he took down a cross at the back post before delicately curling the ball into the top corner.

Straight away it became 4-0, when Pekun chased down the restart, winning the ball outside the box and slid the ball home. A nightmare 5 minutes was made worse for Street when Dockree latched onto a through ball by Dixon, leading to a 50-50 challenge between him and the on-rushing Tasker. Dockree came out on top and recovered his footing to slot the ball into the empty net.

Pekun completed his hat-trick on 35 minutes when following a mix up between Tasker and Gary Thorne, Pekun had a 2-yard tap-in to put the Town 6-0 up

Action from Street’s first encounter with Town in 2013

Jake Younie completed the first half scoring, smashing home a rebound from his own header after he was left completely unmarked from a Benson corner.

The game was then brought back to life in the 65th minute after Gilbert drove 30 yards into the Street half before playing in Pekun, who fired low into the bottom corner for his 4th goal of the evening.

Street produced their only real chance in the dying minutes when the ball was whipped in at the head of an advanced Steve Turner, but his effort bounced wide.

Town broke quickly from the resulting goal kick and Pekun scored his 5th when his original shot was saved by Tasker and the Town winger finished off the rebound to complete the scoring and make it a thoroughly miserable evening.

The next meeting between the two teams would take place during the pre-season of the 2016-17 season. The introduction of the Andover Charity Cup, with the trophy kindly donated by Cliff Stevens, saw the Street complete their pre-season with a good-sized crowd and an entertaining game at the Portway Stadium.

Both teams started well, but it was the hosts that took the lead in the 10th minute, when Adam Grange found space at a corner to beat Tasker at the near post.

Three further goals in the first half for Town, ensured the trophy was staying at the Portway. First Liam Gilbert’s free kick found its way past Tasker, then Chris Onoufriou scored twice in three minutes. Adam Grange was brought down in the area and Onoufriou netted from the spot His

Second goal came after good work by Danny Urry and Onoufriou netted from the rebound after his first effort was blocked.

Both sides made plenty of changes during the second half and Town completed the scoring with their 5th, when Academy player Craig Stanley scored the best goal of the game.

The next Charity Cup fixture took place a year later in July 2017 at Foxcotte and a much tighter game was witnessed by over 200 spectators.

The Town took an early lead with Craig Blakeman scoring a thirty-yard screamer. Street had an opportunity to level on the half hour when they were awarded a penalty. However, Zach Neve’s penalty was straight and Town keeper Lloyd Thomas made the save at the expense of a corner.

The Street did get back on level terms, ten minutes into the second half. Former Town player, Olie Yates made inroads into the Town defence and as the ball came across the goal, Casson Spencer got the finishing touch.

The outcome of the match was decided in the final 15 minutes, first a deep cross from the left found an unmarked Michael Gosney to score from close range. Five minutes from time the home keeper could only parry Gilbert’s fierce effort, the rebound came back to Reece Rusher, who fired home from the edge of the box.

Both clubs enjoyed success that season, with Street gaining promotion to the Wessex Premier and the Town finishing runners-up in the Wessex Premier. Unfortunately, the club opted out of promotion and were demoted back down to Wessex League One

A much-changed Town side entertained the Street in the next chapter of the Charity Cup saga. From the outset, the Street looked the most dangerous, with Town keeper Kieran McHardy being called into action on numerous occasions. The Street took a deserved lead in the 11th minute when Olie Yates fired home from outside the penalty area. Then in the 21st minute the Street were awarded a penalty, but Callum Sweeney put the penalty over the bar.

Sweeney made amends shortly after the break, when he converted an opportunity to double the Street’s lead. That lead became 3-0 shortly afterwards when Yates was left unmarked, and he made no mistake. The Town did get a consolation in the 55th minute through Shaquille Gwengwe.

The Town welcomed the Street to the Portway in late November 2018, this time in the North Hants Senior Cup.

On a dry but misty evening, the Street started well and scored just after 10 minutes. A long clearance from George Baxter was deftly headed on by Callum Sweeney into Kylan Lewis’s path and the tall striker rounded the keeper to score.

Chances at both ends were not converted until on thirty minutes, substitute Zac Hine slid the ball through for Shane Lock to score.

The game was all but over after 15 minutes in the second half. First Lock converted from inside the six-yard box following a set-piece corner. Then Lewis shrugged off his marker to cross for Hine to convert to make it 4-0.

It was not long before it was 5-0 and it came from a rare Jamie Pollard strike after the ball had been pulled back to him from a corner.

Both sides were struggling in the league, but faced each other in April 2019, again at the Portway but this time in the Andover Open Cup Semi-Final.

The game was not a spectacle for the 168 crowd that attended the game, as it was a scrappy, at times tetchy with not many scoring opportunities.

The only goal of the game came when Lock seized on a short back pass and rounded Tasker in the Town goal to score and ensure the Street progressed to the final, which they won against Alresford Town.

The next encounter at Foxcotte Park, was in the Charity Cup and was perhaps the closest game between the two sides. At the end of 90 minutes, nothing could separate the 2 teams, with the game being decided by a penalty shootout.

In the end the Street held their nerve to win 5-4, with Ilyas Warshow scoring the winning penalty.

The first league encounter between the sides since March 2014 came in October 2019. The match was eagerly awaited and was well contested in front of a huge crowd of 248 at Foxcotte Park.

The Street overcame the early loss of skipper Matt Scott through injury and took the lead when Jazz Beavis had an

Ilays Warshow scores the winning penalty during the penalty shootout with Town in August 2019

effort that hit an advancing defender and the referee, who was perfectly placed, gave a penalty for handball. Callum Sweeney gleefully converted the penalty to give the Street the lead.

The play began to get frantic at times and Town equalised on 75 minutes, when Zac Hine, a number of players that had played for opposing sides, lifted a free kick over the defensive wall and high into the net.

Five minutes after drawing level, the Town found themselves behind again. A long run by Beavis was ended at the expense of a corner, the kick was half cleared and when the ball came back in from the other flank, defender Jake Curtis headed home from close range in the midst of a static defence and goalkeeper.

There was still time for Town to have one more chance, but Emans blasted his effort straight at the stranded New Street keeper Chris Wing, when he pounced on a loose back-pass.

Covid-19 then affected the league so that the next match played was the annual Charity match at the Portway Stadium. This was the last time the trophy was played for between the two sides, and it was Town that came out on top.

Street had a new management team of Danny Dolan and Jamie Coleman as his assistant, and they got off to the perfect start when Olie Yates converted from close range to give the Street the lead.

The lead only lasted until the 35th minute, when Michael Donovan’s diagonal cross from the left, evaded both central defenders and Josh Hewson colly slotted the ball past Sean O’Brien.

The Town then effectively won the game, two minutes later, Hewson burst into the area and was brought down by O’Brien, with the Street keeper earning a yellow card. Zac Hine fired home the spot kick into the roof of the net just before halftime. The second half proved to be uneventful with the Town securing the game 2-1.

The following league encounter in September, was again at the Portway Stadium, is best forgotten! For the record the Street raced into a 2-0 halftime lead thanks to goals from Danny Urry and substitute Scott Kinge. The Street looked comfortable at halftime but then proceeded to press the suicide button in the second half.

Ross Cook scores the first of his hat-trick against Town in the League meeting back in December 2022

Firstly, Josh Hewson’s pace took him clear, the advancing O’Brien half stopped the ball with his legs and then saw it to roll agonisingly slowly inside the far post.

The home side were now the dominant force and after Hewson won another corner and Adam Pattison saw a header well saved another scramble saw a handball in the area and Tom Pattison made no mistake from the spot.

Then with a little more than fifteen minutes remaining the visitors were reduced to ten men when Danny Field received a second caution for a rather blatant shirt tug that halted an attack.

An effort from Street substitute Ally McCracken bought the best out of Kerrigan before Town were awarded a second penalty. There was no doubting that Scott’s challenge was a foul though to many it looked outside the area, but the Assistant seemingly convinced the referee otherwise and Tom Pattison converted the penalty with the same aplomb as his earlier effort.

With the ninety minutes virtually up came chaos and confusion as O’Brien blocked a shot and there was a mighty scrimmage in the area of the “D” that resulted in a red card for Street’s Connor Thorne - the reason for same was difficult to see – and further lengthy “conversation” ended with Scott and Kinge heading for the Sin Bin and New Street now reduced to seven players. Into stoppage time –something like nine minutes – and Barkaway scored a fourth in a goalmouth scramble before Adam Pattison scored a fifth goal as Street suffered for the lack of numbers.

With the Covid lockdown and no Charity Cup last season, so the two

sides then met again in the League near the start of the 2021/22 season. Matches between these two Clubs, are always entertaining and this was no exception for as a game it had everything. Goals, missed chances, all out attacking football, determined and often brave defending, an exciting finish and one of the most bizarre goals one will ever see.

The visitors made the better start with a Luke Hooper shot turned round the post by keeper Jack Hopwood, a Cameron Thatcher cross emphatically cleared for a corner and a handball claim turned down.

Ben Emans bought Town into the game with a couple of pacy runs and a shot that hit the inside of the far post and rebounded into play, but after Street goalkeeper Chris Wing bravely saved a Michael Owen shot the home side went ahead on the ten-minute mark.

A corner, swung in from the left, was headed back in to the six-yard box and Josh Bertie was the quickest to react and hooked the ball over the line. Street bounced back with a fierce Ross Cook volley that was (painfully) blocked and two further efforts from the same player were saved by Hopwood, one with his legs.

Hooper’s pace was troubling the Town defence and a Shane Lock cross was headed out of Hopgood’s hands by one of his own defenders, before the lead was doubled after twenty-six minutes. Wing collected a through ball and under little pressure whilst debating his clearance suddenly trod on the ball, fell over, and Michael Owen almost apologetically rolled the ball in to the empty net.

Bertie just failed to make contact with a left wing cross and at the other end Hopwood fumbled a Hooper shot before bravely falling on the loose ball and then denying Cook again as the striker tried to find the far corner. As Street finished the half the strongest the home defence held firm, often with bodies in the way of the ball, and the half ended with some superb control by Hooper and an equally superb save by Hopwood.

Street started the second half with Lewis Alderman replacing Adam Pearson in the heart of the defence and came close to reducing the deficit when a home defender swung wildly at a Lloyd Thompson cross and was relieved to see the ball fly over his own crossbar.

Back came the home side with Nathan Primus finding Bertie, whose shot was high, before Wing produced the save of the evening to turn a Tom Pattison piledriver over the bar.

Hopwood thwarted Cook again and Lloyd Thompson was stopped by weight of numbers on the edge of the area.

Then with some six minutes left on the clock. Street made ground down the left, Cameron Thatcher burst into the area and simply kept running and slotted the ball past Hopwood from a narrow angle.

There was then the usual “debate” as to who was going to retrieve the ball from the net, a scuffle and a red card for Primus with the referee indicating that he had stamped on an opponent.

The first card of the game and no real protests at the decision. Scenting a point New Street came forward again and Thompson was inches away with an acrobatic volley from a Ross Belbin cross before Adam Pattison collected a yellow card for a tackle born out of frustration.

Normal time had given way to added time when New Street won a corner on the right. The kick cleared everybody and Ross Cook, all alone on the far side of the area, volleyed the ball through the crowd of defenders and attackers alike to find the net inside the far post and cause almost manic celebrations from the white shirted visitors.

Within another minute the final whistle ensured honours finished even after a match which was a credit to both sides and, in turn, the League.

Mention too of the remarkable attendance – 369 – with people still queuing to get in ten minutes after kick off.

The two sides would meet again shortly later in the FA Vase and the game enjoyed an absolutely explosive

start as Town gave the ball away in midfield and Daryll 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.

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 Bertie taking him into the area before weight of numbers proved too much.

Street then doubled their lead on 51 minutes. The second of two corners was not dealt with by the defence and Mikey Davis fired high into the net from close range. O’Brien had to race from his area to clear an under hit 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 Daryll Phillips’s path by Shane Lock and the shot from some fifteen yards flew into the top corner giving Brooks no chance.

The home side seemed to lose their composure and found themselves four down after 62 minutes. An up and under clearance by Scott was completely missed by a home defender and Daryll 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

Daryll Phillips scores his second goal on his Street debut in Sept 21

round the angle of cross and bar

The number of replacements took the sting out of the game, which drifted into stoppage time before bursting into 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.

The two sides then met in North Hants Cup. It’s local importance attracted an attendance in excess of two hundred to Foxcotte Park for what was a highly entertaining ninety minutes.

Both clubs fielded nearly full-strength sides and it was the visitors who started the stronger after they escaped when conceding possession in their own half and being saved by Owen Trapnell’s well timed challenge on Reece Rusher.

An early Town corner saw home keeper Michael Weatherall keep out a James Ritchie header with the help of the crossbar and they should have profited from a Ben Emans cross which was rather scuffed wide of the post from close range. Reward for their pressure came in the eleventh minute when Brendan Holmes sent Ben Emans clear on the right and his speed and control took him through a rather hesitant defence and round the keeper before rolling the ball in to an empty net.

To their credit the home side slowly worked their way back in to the game and after Shane Lock and Rusher had gone close they fashioned an equaliser ten minutes before the break.

Lock made ground on the left before Ross Cook squared the ball across the area for Rusher to beat the rather stranded Steinborne-Busse in the Andover goal. Street then made it two goals in three minutes with Cook again the provider. His clever pass sent Lee Morris into the area, the keeper blocked the shot with his legs and Lock was quickest to the rebound

So, to the rather strange start to the second half as a home attack was halted by the corner flag with the ball going out of play. The referee embarked on an extremely lengthy conversation with his assistant before showing Andover’s Jay Jay Tucker a red card while at least one other player was cautioned.

Then two goals in as many minutes midway through the half made it game over. The first was made by Lock’s through ball which found two green and black shirts just the right side of the offside flag and it was full back Lee Morris, who coolly slotted the ball past the advancing keeper. The second was due to an error by Steinbourne-Busse, as he seemed rather casual in trying to claim a difficult bouncing ball, didn’t hold it, and Lawton took advantage from close range. Josh Jefferies then ended the scoring with the goal of the game. A corner was partially cleared only for the youngster to send an unstoppable shot high into the roof of the net from some twenty yards and put the icing on the cake as far as the home side were concerned.

The return League game at the Foxcotte was an unusual un entertaining game. Perhaps because both sides were in a promotion dog fight, with Street battling for automatic promotion, while Town were desperately trying to stay in the play-off places.

After a drab first half, the Street took the lead when Ross Cook superbly controlled and volleyed home from close range. But the lead would not last long as Adam Pattison was left in acres of space and he was able to drill the ball home past Jordi Wilson in the Street goal.

A draw would not be what both sides wanted, with the street missing out on promotion by a point, while Town fell out of the Play-Offs to eventual winners Laverstock & Ford.

Finally, this season has seen two encounters so far between the sides, both victories for the Street. A 6-4 win at the Portway in the North Hants Cup was just as entertaining as the scoreline suggests with Davis, Scott and Ross Cook with four goals sealing the win. And it was Cook with another hattrick at Christmas that gave the Street the points in the league game at the Portway. Onto the next encounter…

MATCH ACTION

“You just see the character of people, they don’t wilt, they go with runners, what a wonderful performance. I’m super proud of the group but to be fair this group have been doing that for a hell of a long time.”

JAMIE COLEMAN

0 AMESBURY TOWN 4 ANDOVER NEW STREET

Bonnymead Park – Tue 21st March 2023

Amesbury Town: Troganowski, O’Hagan, Rinaldi, Erdinc, Vallis (C), Sullivan, Webb, Utterson, Millar, Gregory, Harvey

Andover New Street: O’Brien, Hibberd, Perrett, Hassell (Dallimore 64), Scott (C), Thatcher, Lock (Dockree 72), Lawton (Allen 82’), Cook, Tulk, Davis (Stubbs 15’)

Scorers: ANS - Cook (3’), Lawton (17’, 36’), Own Goal (75’)

MATCH ACTION

1 PETERSFIELD TOWN

1 ANDOVER NEW STREET

Southdowns Builders Stadium – Sat 25th March 2023

Petersfield Town: Wilson, Alcock, Merritt, Smith, Sharp, Walsh-Smith, Barsa, Hoare (C), Greenough, Agbeseyi, Dougan

Andover New Street: Rodwell, Hibberd, Perrett (Morris 73’), Dallimore (Hassell 82’), Scott (C), Dockree, Lock (Thatcher 52’), Lawton, Cook, Tulk (Owen 80’), Davis

Scorers:

PET - Greenough (15’)

ANS - Cook (36’)

“I’m really proud of the players for everything they gave me. Yes, we would have probably had a bit more quality and a bit more guile, but all in all, they were excellent. They gave me everything.”

JAMIE COLEMAN

THE CAMERA NEVER LIES

Street celebrate Ross Cook’s hat-trick in the previous match between the two Andover sides that resulted in a 3-0 win for the Street at the Portway.

RACE TO PROMOTION

We take a look at the teams fighting it out for automatic promotion and also the Play-Offs, and examine their remaining matches…

1ST – ANDOVER NEW ST - 84PTS

Today – Andover Town (H)

11/04/2023 – East Cowes V (H)

15/04/2023 – Newport IOW (H)

19/04/2023 - Totton & Eling (A)

2ND – NEW MILTON TOWN - 78PTS

11/04/2023 – Ash Utd (H)

15/04/2023 – Fleetlands (A)

3RD – NEWPORT IOW - 77PTS

Yesterday – East Cowes V (H) - Drew

11/04/2023 – Fleetlands (A)

13/04/2023 – Andover Town (A)

15/04/2023 – Andover New St (A)

18/04/2023 – Whitchurch Utd (H)

5TH – HAMWORTHY R - 75PTS

Yesterday – Verwood Town (H)

15/04/2023 – East Cowes V (H)

18/04/2023 – Petersfield (H)

5TH – PETERSFIELD - 68PTS

Today – Whitchurch Utd (A)

11/04/2023 – Totton & Eling (A)

13/04/2023 – Romsey Town (A)

15/04/2023 – Fawley AFC (A)

18/04/2023 – Hamworthy R (A)

6TH – DOWNTON - 65PTS

Today – Amesbury Town (A)

13/04/2023 – Fleetlands (A)

15/04/2023 – Fleet Spurs (H)

STREET

WITH ALEX DOCKREE

A – ATHLETE

If you had to compete, what event would you do?

400m

B – BOOTS

Favourite pair of boots?

Adidas Predator’s Absolutes.

C – CAR

Dream car?

Range Rover Sport.

D – DESTINATION

Dream destination?

Maldives.

E – EAT

Favourite food?

Roast Dinner.

F – FIVE

What is your all-time

Five-a-side team?

Buffon, Cannavaro, Steven Gerrard, Lionel Messi, Ronaldo (R9).

G – GUESTS

Celebrity you’d like to have a drink with?

David Beckham.

H

–

HOBBIES

Favourite thing to do other than football?

Walking the dog.

I – IDOL

Who is your sporting idol?

Steven Gerrard.

J – JOB

What is your full-time profession?

Primary School Teacher.

K –

KIT

Favourite all-time football shirt?

Always loved the Holland kits.

L – LANGUAGES

How many languages can you speak? One

M – MOMENT

Favourite moment of your career so far?

Coming back from a serious injury and win the Russell Cotes Cup.

N – NOTABLE

Who is the most important contact in your phone?

Has to be the Wife doesn’t it?

O – OPPOSITION

Hardest opponent?

Farnborough.

P

–

PIZZA TOPPINGS

What toppings would You choose?

Meat Feast – Pepperoni, Peppers, Onions and Ground Beef.

Q – QUOTE

Favourite quote?

Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard.

R – RESTAURANT

Favourite restaurant?

Miller & Carter

S – STADIUM

Favourite stadium you’ve Played at?

St Mary’s.

T – TRAVEL

Best place you’ve been to? Bali.

U – UNLIMITED

If you could have endless Something, what would it be? Money.

V –

VICTORY

Most memorable win?

Beating Town 3-0 this season.

W – WATCH

Favourite film/series?

Luther.

X – X FACTOR

If you had to sing, what song would you choose?

Don’t look back in anger – Oasis.

Y – YIKES

Biggest fear?

Snakes.

Z –

ZOO

Favourite animal?

Jaguar.

PICTURE THE PAST

Street’s Mikey Davis scores the Street’s second goal during the 4-1 victory at the Portway last season in the FA Vase encounter.

WESSEX LEAGUE ONE 2022/23

WESSEX LEAGUE ONE FRIDAY

TOP SCORERS:

37 – Cook (Andover New S)

35 – Long (Hamworthy Rec)

28 – Odam (Romsey)

24 – Stone (New Milton)

21 – Greenough (Petersfield)

21 – Sampson (New Milton)

20 – Kelly (Newport IOW)

20 – Knight (Fawley)

20 – Krystofowicz (Downton)

19 – Cooper (New Milton)

CLEAN SHEETS:

14 – Pitman (Newport IOW)

14 – Rodwell (Andover New S)

12 – Wilson (Petersfield)

11 – Betts (Downton)

11 – Bull (New Milton)

11 – Hare (Totton & Eling)

11 – Mitchell (Hamworthy Rec)

09 – Ram (East Cowes V)

08 – Halliday (Whitchurch U)

07 – Bartram (Romsey)

FORM GUIDE:

* Correct at 06/04/2023 – Last 6 games

Andover New S: WWWDWW

New Milton: WWWWLW

Hamworthy: WLWWWW

Totton & E: DWWWLW

Andover Town: WLLWWW

Newport (IOW): WWLLWW

Petersfield: WLLWWD

Fleetlands: WWDWLL

East Cowes Vics: LWDWWL

Verwood Town: LLLWWW

SYDENHAMS WESSEX PREMIER

AFC Stoneham v Hamworthy United

Alresford Town v US Portsmouth Alton v Christchurch

Bournemouth v Baffins Milton Rovers

Brockenhurst v Cowes Sports

Fareham Town v Bashley

Hamble Club v Shaftesbury

Horndean v Amesbury Town

Hythe & Dibden v Portland Utd

Moneyfields v Blackfield & Langley

SYDENHAMS WESSEX LEAGUE ONE

Andover New Street v Infinity

Ash United v New Milton Town

East Cowes Vic v Andover Town

Laverstock & Ford v Fleet Spurs

Petersfield Town v Newport IOW

Ringwood Town v Downton

Romsey Town v Bemerton Heath H

Verwood Town v Whitchurch United

Andover New Street Football Club’s commitment is to promote inclusion and to confront and eliminate discrimination, whether by reason of age, disability, gender reassignment, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief. People can be assured of an environment in which their rights, dignity and individual worth are respected, and in particular that they are able to work and watch football in an environment without the threat of intimidation, victimisation, harassment, bullying and abuse. Should you wish to report a specific incident, please contact your nearest club official or download Kick It Out’s free, confidential reporting app on the App Store or Google Play.

THE LAST WORD

WITH KEVIN PIPKIN PROGRAMME EDITOR

It’s not Merseyside, Milan or Manchester – but it’s ours. Welcome back to Foxcotte Park for Street verses Town.

Like so many matches before today, we are looking forward to be entertained as the two senior sides lock horns once again.

Red cards have been a feature here down the years, with Primus being sent off in the 2-2 draw last season at the Portway and let us forget the double sending off of Street’s Danny Field and Connor Thorne, on top of the sin bins to Matt Scott and Scott Kinge in the 5-2 defeat the season before that.

These matches have been covered in Wessex League One, Wessex League Cup, FA Vase, North Hants Senior and Andover Open Cups, but not yet in the Wessex Premier. One day perhaps?

Street are looking a good bet for the title, but there’s still work to do, and some difficult fixtures ahead, starting today, with the likes of East Cowes Vics, Newport IOW and Totton & Eling to come.

Two wins from those games, including today, would mathematically secure Street the title and after going so close last season and all the hard work that Jamie, Jamie, Ash, Thomo, Ken and the lads have put in during this long season. Hopefully, we can be celebrating three years hard work to get to the position we have so longed for

So many memories of these classic games between the two sides; let’s make some more today.

Streets’ last team