LOOKING BACK

LOCK 12

WHAT’S THE STORY?

Street carried on their recent run of good results with a 1-0 victory over Ringwood Town a couple of weeks ago, thanks to an early Shane Lock strike.

Andover New Street didn't take long to dominate the opening exchanges. Mikey Davis was causing Ringwood plenty of problems down the left flank and Street were having very good possession. Harry Lawton seemed to be everywhere but he scuffed a shot wide when a good chance appeared.

However it wasn't long before Street took the lead. Good play from Davis and Phillips set up Shane Lock who made no mistake and New Street had deservedly gone one up. Lawton then had a shot saved by the home keeper and it seemed likely that more goals would soon be on the cards. Ringwood were not in the match and in fact their first attack didn't materialise until 25 minutes on the clock when Sean O'Brien did well to thwart a breakaway that looked like bringing the sides level. Reece Rusher, who had been causing the home side plenty of problems, swapped wings with Mikey Davis and New Street continued to push forward.

In the second half, O'Brien had to punch a Ringwood free kick clear. The game was now much more even and both sides had chances without capitalising. Plenty of midfield action but chances for either side were rare and when the referee eventually blew his whistle after an interminable amount of injury time the 3 points were on their way to Street.

HAVEN’T WE MET BEFORE? MOMENTS

SMITH 87

LEAGUE POSITION 5

ATTENDANCE 48

STREET: O’Brien (sub Scott 72) Rusher, Allen Lawton, Lock Cook 68) SUBS NOT , Field, Alderman , Pearson, Morris, (sub Rogers 67), , Davis, Phillips (sub USED: Jeffery, Weatherall 25

STREET 5-1 ANDOVER TOWN

RUSHER 41, LOCK 43, MORRIS 61, LAWTON 64, JEFFERY 75 EMANS 10

The Street progressed to the North Hants Senior Cup semifinals with a thumping 5-1 victory against Andover Town, who were reduced to 10 men early in the second half.

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 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 Reece Rusher to beat the rather stranded Steinborne-Busse in the Andover goal. Street made it two goals in three minutes when Cook’s clever pass sent Mikey Davis in to the area, the keeper blocked the shot with his legs and Lock was quickest to the rebound.

Andover’s Jay Jay Tucker saw a red card early in the second half after an altercation with Rusher, the latter receiving a yellow card. 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 home and then an error by Steinbourne-Busse, as he tried to claim a difficult bouncing ball, didn’t hold it, and Harry Lawton scored from close range. Then a corner was partially cleared only for Josh Jeffery to send an unstoppable shot high in to the roof of the net from some twenty yards and put the icing on the cake.

HAVEN’T WE MET BEFORE? MOMENTS

JEFFERY REFLECTS ON CUP VICTORY

Josh Jeffery came off the bench to make a difference in Streets recent wins against Downton and Andover Town in the North Hants Cup.

Jeffery’s pace and ability to run at defenders has caught the eye in recent matches where he has come off the bench to make an impact during the latter stages of the game. This was capped with a spectacular strike against Andover Town last Tuesday and an important goal last Saturday against Romsey Town, just when Romsey looked to be back in the game after coming back to 2-2. The strike against Andover Town sealed a memorable victory against the local rivals from the Portway. The chance fell to Jeffery just outside the area, after the Town defence half cleared a Street corner and he proceeded to fire it into the net via the cross bar. The winger/striker was happy that he took his chance and hopes he has proven what he can do to manager Jamie Coleman.

“The gaffer sent me on with a job to do and luckily I was in the right position at the right time,”.” said Jeffery. “The chance came straight to me and I was happy to get on the end of it and put it away, hopefully I can show the gaffer that I can do that week in, week out.”

The win against Romsey Town means the Street maintain their push for promotion and stay in 5th position with at least one or two games in hand with the teams above them. Jeffery believes that the Street have only just started to get g following their defeat at Laverstock & Ford. ”We are just starting to get going and we are starting to pick up momentum. on the Street. “We had a slight blip against Laverstock but we are back on it now, we look good in possession and look capable of scoring all over pitch.”

Jeffery admitted that he has been working harder in training and giving an extra 10 per cent to try and push his way into the side. The winger is happy that his hard work has paid off with his recent goals. “I’ve been working hard, I always give 100 per cent but sometimes you have to give 110 per cent,” said Jeffery. “I’ve tried my hardest at every training session and it’s paid off with me getting on the pitch and making a telling contribut the team and helping them progress in the cup and also getting the three points against Downton and also Romsey Town, especially my goal against Romsey as it made such a difference and swung the game back in our favour after they came back from 2-0 down to 2-2.” oing ” Jeffery told Word ion to

centre spot

Just look at his face! Josh Jeffery can’t believe his strike to put the Street 5-1 up last week against Andover Town. Ross Cook and an equally shocked Adam Pearson join in the celebrations.