Andover Town bounced back from two consecutive League defeats to beat Champions Portland United four nil at the Portway on Saturday and maintain their eight point lead at the top of the table.
An early goal for Zach Glasspool, fashioned by Ben Cook and Jason Silver, gave the Town the lead – that was Glasspool’s 30th goal of the season – and that was to be the only goal of a half in which both sides went forward at every opportunity.
Town however always looked the more dangerous in front of goal but spurned a golden chance to increase the lead when Portland keeper Sean Lillington saved Glasspool’s penalty.
The second half continued in the same vein with Town increasing their lead when Mike Gosney fired home from a neat George Hallahan pass and adding a third through Micky Hubbard after neat play by Silver.
The fourth may well be credited to Gosney though his shot did take a deflection off a defender’s boot. But a satisfactory day for the Town that sets them up for League fixtures at home to Lymington on Tuesday and then away to second place Hamworthy United next Saturday.
Andover New Street saw their game with Totton and Eling fall victim of the weather, as did Stockbridge in the Hampshire Premier League, but Whitchurch took their run of matches without a win to seven when going down two nil at US Portsmouth, both goals coming in the first half.
There is a local derby at Foxcotte Park on Tuesday when, weather permitting, New Street take on Whitchurch in the semi final of the North Hants Senior Cup while Stockbridge host League leaders Paulsgrove on Thursday,
New Street are without a game next Saturday while Whitchurch travel to New Milton.
By sports reporter JOHN GORMAN
