British Gas Business Southern League South and West Division 1

Andover 1 Winchester City 1

HONOURS AND DISHONOURS EVEN

This long established local derby, it was the 166th time the clubs had met in league cup, lived up to expectations at the Portway Stadium on
Tuesday evening with the honours, both clubs scored, and dishonours both sides had a player sent off, equally shared.

It was Winchester who showed the early dominance, penning Andover back into their own half for the first 25 minutes. Mark Gamble set things
rolling with a penetrating run to the byeline and a cross which Jamie Musselwhite put just over the bar. Gamble himself put in the next shot
which Simon Arthur in the Andover goal saved well. A free kick for handball came to nothing although Josh Thomas got up well to head the
ball on.

Andover’s first serious attack came close when City failed to clear and with Dave Hook beaten the ball hit the post.

The Lions broke the deadlock in the 27th minute when a slip by Sean Thurgood let in Bobby Swayne whose shot Hook did well to save but he
could not hold the ball, Ben Wright then put in a shot again covered by Hook. The ball, on this occasion ran to Joe Harris, who had an easy
shot from close range to open the scoring. After half an hour’s play City brought on Lloyd Webber for James Davis and his greater experience steadied the midfield and gradually Winchester wrenched back control of the game. Tom Vavrecka got in a shot and Neil Champion broke through but had the ball whipped off his foot before he could shoot. Mark Jones was busy in defence but did manage to get in a header in the Andover box.

Phil Thomas threaded his way through the Andover defence to lay on a chance but no City player was on hand to take advantage.

Just before half time Josh Thomas put in some good work on the flank and crossed for Musselwhite who beat the keeper but unfortunately his
shot hit the post and was cleared.

The persistence of Vavrecka in the 56th minute resulted in Josh Thomas heading the ball across the Andover box and Gamble smashed in the
equaliser.

A foul on Vavrecka, which resulted in lengthy treatment by physio Kayley Brown, saw the offending Andover player sent off and for a period City pressed the 10-man opposition back. Josh Thomas was prominent in creating runs down the wing and Martin Thomas also proved
the same service from the other flank. Often Jones was the lone defender in the City half as the rest pressed forward.

At the other end Hook came to the rescue when Andover broke away and he was left with a one-on-one situation and but managed to hack the
ball away.

Musselwhite was replaced by Chris Flood in the 65th minute and a foul on the youngster resulted in Phil Cousisn putting the free kick over
the bar. Flood was booked a few minutes later for a foul, thus completing an interesting entry into the game!

Vavrecka came off in the 75th minute and Martin Beck substituted and immediately worked his way into the penalty box but his pass to Flood
was intercepted.

Disaster struck for City in the 78th minute when Martin Thomas was sent off for apparent retaliation to a foul.

Both sides had chances to win the game in the last ten minutes but at the final whistle a point each seemed a fair result.

City: David Hook, Martin Thomas, James davis, Mark Jones, Josh thomas, Phil Cousisns, Neil champion, Tom Vavrecka, Mark Gamble, Jamie
Muselwhite, Sean Thurgood, Lloyd Webber (29th), Chris Flood (65), Martin Beck (75), Francis Dolan, Mark Zawadski.