LOOKING BACK

COOK 17, LOCK 24

The Street started 2022 with a 2-0 win over neighbours Whitchurch United at Foxcotte Park.

After a scrappy start the Street very much dominated possession. Ross Cook, back in the side after a three-week absence, controlled a long Reece Rusher cross, lost his footing, recovered and curled his shot past the angle of post and bar.

Another Rusher cross was rather unconvincingly palmed clear by former Street keeper Chis Wing before the pressure paid off as early as the eleventh minute. Shane Lock collected the ball midway in the opposing half and the through ball split the defence with Ross Cook lifting the ball past the advancing Wing.

Another Lock pass sent Cameron Thatcher free on the left only for the shot to beat Wing and the far post before the score was doubled on 24 minutes. Cook fashioned a shooting chance for Harry Lawton, the shot was deflected over the keeper and Shane Lock turned the ball over the line with the defence completely flat footed. The first attack of note by the visitors sent Craig Rutledge clear on the right but he hesitated as goalkeeper Mike Weatherall narrowed the angle before scooping the ball wide of the post, Cook was inches wide from distance with Wing frantically back pedalling towards his goal and the striker followed that with a booking after a late challenge.

Rusher was narrowly wide from the edge of the area before the half ended with a long and powerful run from Rutledge which ended through lack of support.

The second half started in the manner of the first with a Rusher cross that evaded three green shirts and another that was headed narrowly wide by Matt Scott who had momentarily abandoned his defensive duties.

Wing was a long way out of his area to deny Rusher and dealt confidently with a number of crosses but could do nothing with a twenty-five-yard piledriver from Zach Hine that crashed against the post and rebounded to safety.

Robbie Owen was just too high at one end, after the ball had carelessly been given away, before Weatherall was at full stretch to hold a Cameron George effort at the other.

There were just two more efforts on goal before the final whistle. A Whitchurch corner caused a lengthy scramble in the sixyard box, with Thatcher hooking the ball off the line to prevent an own goal, and Wing acrobatically tipping an Owen header over the crossbar.

HAVEN’T WE MET BEFORE? MOMENTS

LEAGUE POSITION 5

ATTENDANCE 240

STREET: Weatherall, Field, Scott, James (sub Pearson 80), Morris, Hine, Thatcher, Lawton, Rusher (sub Davis 70), Lock, Cook (sub Owen 63) @AndoverNSfcSUBS NOT USED: Rogers, Hooper 25

BISHOP 64 LAWTON 31, RAYFIELD OG 46

The Street produced a stunning performance to beat league leaders Bemerton Heath Harlequins 2-1, thanks to a world class strike from Harry Lawton and an own goal just 56 seconds into the second half.

Andover New Street were without the isolating Ross Cook and there was a rather cautious start to the game from both sides before Reece Rusher saw two efforts fly wide in quick succession. The first threat on goal came with two Bemerton corners, one punched clear by Mike Weatherall and the other somewhat overhit for a throw on the other side. The game was very much end to end, though with Bemerton looking the more dangerous, and then Street enjoyed a spell of possession in which Harry Lawton was inches wide with a volley from Rusher’s cross and Weatherall saved well from a header at the other end. After the save, what can only be described as a fracas occurred. The immediate outcome was a red card for Bemerton’s Ronan Clancy, for an incident involving Shane Lock. Harry Lawton sent one effort across the face of goal but on the half hour mark he collected a partially cleared free kick and rifled the ball into the roof of the net from some thirty yard - a “worldie” in the current terminology. The predatory Justin Bennett was denied the equaliser by a superb last-ditch challenge from Ashley James to leave Street ahead at the break.

The second half could not have started better for Street as they doubled their lead in the opening sixty seconds. A long cross from the right caused consternation in the home area and the ball eventually went over the line with a defender getting the last touch for an own goal.

Bemerton, seemingly deciding that attack was the best form of defence, began to control the midfield and use both flanks with Charlie Rayfield a. constant threat from his right back berth. Both sides made ample us of their substitutes, seemingly all in a matter of minutes, and midway through the fortyfive minutes the deficit was halved. Street had two chances to clear a left wing cross but could not get the ball away, and one of the substitutes, George Bishop, lifted the ball into the top of the net from somewhere 5 near the penalty spot. New Street were now either sitting back, or being pushed back, and Weatherall saved well from Danny Young.

Justin Bennett rose highest to meet a cross and his header must have grazed the outside of the post before the referee, constantly looking at his watch, allowed one more corner. The ball was crossed from the left, Eddie Perrett’s header was out of Weatherall’s reach but skipper Matt Scott was perfectly placed to head the ball off the li t th l bl 3 i t

HAVEN’T WE MET BEFORE? MOMENTS

240 25

LEAGUE POSITION 5

ATTENDANCE 123

STREET: Weatherall, Field, Scott, James, Morris, Hine, Allen (sub Thatcher 59), Lawton, Rusher (sub Davis 65), Lock, Hooper (sub Rogers 71) SUBS NOT USED: Pearson, O’Brien

centre spot

Action from our last match on Saturday against Bemerton. Pictured is Harry Lawton, moments after his 30-yard effort had given Street the lead. Zach Hine and Max Allen are first to celebrate the goal.