Andover New Street made it three wins in seven days with a hard-fought victory over their Wiltshire neighbours Bemerton Heath Harlequins on a bright, sunny afternoon at the DH Property Services Stadium.
Managerial decisions paid off from the outset, with Dyllan Roocroft returning to the starting line-up alongside new signing Harry Beckley, who slotted straight into the heart of the defence. In midfield, the now-familiar partnership of Jake Rawkins and Cam Thatcher continued to impress, supported well by Kokoszka and Lock as both sides settled into a steady opening spell.
The New Street back line, marshalled superbly by Bennett, Bowden and Beckley, looked assured early on, dominating their area and limiting the visitors’ attacking threat. That solid foundation allowed the hosts to strike early. Just seven minutes in, a pair of clumsy clearances from Bemerton gifted possession to Jake Rawkins. Spotting an opportunity, he took aim from distance; with the keeper seemingly convinced it was heading wide, the effort crept in to give New Street the lead.
The game ebbed and flowed after the opener, with both sides enjoying spells of possession in a competitive midfield battle. New Street doubled their advantage following a determined piece of play from Cam Thatcher, who broke up an attack and surged forward to win a throw-in. George Higgins delivered the restart to Roocroft, who showed persistence to keep the move alive before threading the ball through to Malachi Dotse. Dotse did the rest, firing a composed strike across the box to make it two.
After the break, Bemerton Heath Harlequins came out with renewed intent. Their pressure paid off when a long, powerful goal kick was controlled and worked into the box, resulting in a well-taken goal to halve the deficit.
The remainder of the match saw New Street dig deep. At times they looked to be creating their own problems, inviting pressure and missing opportunities to put the game to bed. However, their resilience held firm, with a special mention for Harry Bowden, whose defensive display proved crucial in keeping the visitors at bay and preserving the lead.
There were no further goals, and the final whistle confirmed another important victory for the Hampshire side—completing a remarkable run of three wins in seven days, all against Wiltshire opposition.
Man of the Match – Jake Rawkins
Attention now turns to Thursday night, when Andover New Street return to home turf to face Millbrook FC in the Russell Cotes Cup.