THE SEASON [IN REVIEW

KEVIN PIPKIN LOOKS BACK ON THE 2022-23 CAMPAIGN SUMMER

Quality over quantity this campaign was going to be the way for manager Jamie Coleman, and the recruitment of Eddie Perrett, Scott Hassell, George Baxter were naturally met with a nod of approval from all, as well as tying down Ross Cook proved to be a tremendous bit of business after it looked like he was leaving to Tadley Calleva. George Hallahan also joined the squad as did Daryll Phillips and the Moore brothers, Josh & Arran to bolster the attacking options.

August

Win, draw,win. Welcome back to League One, Street. We were too good for new boys Fleetlands, with Dockers firing in goal of the season on the opening day. Fawley, as they proved so many times in the past to be our bogey-side, when they snatched a point with a last kick of the game penalty. Sandwiched in there was a 2-0 victory at Warminster Town in the FA Cup. Cooky coming off the bench to score twice. And victories over Hamble Club and Fleet Spurs in the Hants Senior and Wessex League Cup. A disappointing exit at Westbury United in the FA Cup were the score-line flattered the hosts.

It was a case of DeJa’Vu when New Milton earned a point at the Foxcotte, again the visitors scored late on to snatch a point and we started to wonder if these dropped points would cost us promotion again!

Ash United were beaten with a narrow 21 win thanks to two goals from Josh Moore, while the Street welcomed George Plank to the squad.

Cup successes came with a penalty shootout victory over Gosport Borough in the Hants Senior Cup, a 3-2 victory over Fawley in the FA Vase and a cracking local derby in the North Hants Senior with Street beating Town 6-4 at the Portway.

October

COOKY!!!! Was a regular twitter message on match-day as the Street striker notched another brace against Romsey Town in a 5-2 away win. It was the same scoreline when Amesbury came to the Foxcotte, Cook hitting a hat-trick! Verwood Town, Ringwood Town and Totton & Eling were all beaten, before a second-string side lost 2-0 to Petersfield Town in the Russell Cotes Cup. The Vase journey continued with an impressive 5-1 demolition of Street in the battle of the Street’s. More impressive as it was against a Step 5 side, on their patch and we came from a goal down. The second half was great to watch. Goosebumps. A trip to Hamworthy Rec ended the month, what a class side Hamworthy Rec are, we were very fortunate to get the three points that afternoon. Another hat-trick for Cook and Shane Lock also scoring as the Street started to find their grove.

November

Momentum was building, but you might not have known it as we earned a solid point at home to Folland Sports. Gavin James scoring on his debut! Whitchurch, Millbrook and Fleet Spurs were all dispatched with maximum points before that and also the Vase journey ended at Brixham. A slow start ultimately cost us, but the antics of some of the Brixham players left a sour taste in the mouth on top of the fish and chips on the way home!

The month ended with a 3-0 cup win over Downton at the Nest, Shaun Dallimore making his debut, but then having to substituted off at half-time, while Shane Lock, Harry Lawton and an own goal proved to be the difference between the two sides.

December

A Josh Moore brace helped see off Fawley at the Waterside, with Mikey Davis and Shane Lock also finding the net in a 4-2 win. Next came Portsmouth in the Hants Senior Cup and unfortunately it wasn’t the same result as a few years ago, with Pompey winning 5-0 and Mr Pompey giving everyone earache with his bell!

Then after Christmas, Street headed into their final game of 2022 and entertained a crowd of 340 at Andover Town, as Ross Cook bagged another hat-trick as we put our local rivals to the sword!

Where to start? Top of the league? A lot happened in January. Although a lot of it was due to the weather that a large number of games were postponed and started to create a backlog of matches not just for the Street.

In the league a MASSIVE THREE POINTS were secured at New Milton, who built the game up as the top scorer’s vs the meanest defence. The meanest defence ended up on top, with Scotty Hassell scoring a great header from a Mikey Davis corner and the Street defence kept the league top scorers fairly quiet, especially in the second half. While they struggled to contain Ross Cook at the other end. It would be Cooky that sealed the win late on in the

JANUARY

85th minute when he found space to drill home.

Ringwood proved to be a thorn in the Street side when the pair met at Foxcotte Park, the unbeaten league run looked to be ending, until Josh Moore dramatically equalised in the 85th minute to earn a point.

A trip to Fareham in the League Cup quarterfinal rounded off January. This was the second trip to Fareham after the original tie was abandoned due to floodlight failure at half-time. We wished someone killed the lights again before the final whistle as the Town ran out 3-1 winners, with the Street giving a good account of themselves despite the result.

ANDOVER NEW STREET - v - NEWPORT IOW 15/04/2021 | FOXCOTTE PARK

February

A massive month of games started with home victories over Romsey Town and Downton. A 0-0 draw at an improving East Cowes felt like a loss, but at least the unbeaten run continued. Oh no it didn’t as Petersfield pinched the three points when they came to the Foxcotte. A second string lost out to Alresford Town in the North Hants Senior Cup. Hamworthy Rec again proved to be hard opposition but were defeated 3-2 with new signings Layton Tulk and Harry Beckley both on target. Whitchurch and Fleet Spurs were comfortably beaten, but today’s opposition inflicted a 4-0 defeat at the Smallbrook Stadium.

March

March had been our bogey month for a number of seasons, but it wasn’t to be this time around. Still the games came thick and fast. A tight 1-0 win over Downton thanks to Alex Dockree’s flicked goal at the Nest preceded comprehensive wins over Millbrook, Folland Sports and Amesbury Town. The biggest test of the month came at Love Lane, where Street came back from a goal down, with Cooky poking home the ball to equalise. It should have been all three points but the Petersfield defender managed to somehow clear Cooky’s effort off the line in the second period. Ash away rounded off the month and despite a lacklustre opening half, Street were too strong and went on to win 3-0. Another brace for Cook.

April

The backlog of games continued and our re-arranged game with Fleetlands from December was finally played. Again, another test as Fleetlands were unbeaten at home for the past eleven matches. And it proved to be another. tight game and our hearts were in our mouths when. Fleetlands scored with 20 minutes to go, thankfully the linesman had already raised his flag and then Cooky raised the roof when he turned this way and hat inside the box, sat the defender on his backside and then drilled into the corner! Pandemonium! A few minutes later it was 2-0 when Shaun Dallimore pounced on a loose ball, what were we worried about? Last week’s game was another unforgettable derby with Town 4-0 up after 50 minutes. Then came the come back of all comebacks. Lock, Cook, Cook, Cook and then in injury time Cook again! Despite the desperate calls of offside – he clearly was onside – and now there were three games left and just 3 points needed for the title – but s not over yet!