Andover 3 AFC Totton 2

A ROBUST second half display extended Andover's unbeaten league record at the Portway to eight games on Saturday. Totton were one of the pre-season favourites for the Sussex League Title, and for nearly an hour they upheld that reputation. But "never say die" is rapidly becoming the Lions' motto.

Totton started well, and scored with their first attack, with Michael Jackson, who gave the Lions defence a busy afternoon.

Andover were forced to wait for 20 minutes before their first chance came to get back on terms. Shaw could only parry a Vince Rusher drive, but when Justin Bennett blasted the rebound he brilliantly pushed the effort over the bar.

The visitors deserved their interval lead, and one suspects that the paint in the Lions dressing room was peeled off the wall during the half-time team talk.

Sam Rea, who with Phil Nicholls came on at the start of the second half, was soon in the thick of the action. Rea raced away as the Lions broke quickly, and the youngster got his head to a cross only to see the ball go over the bar.

Andover looked a lot sharper but Totton remained a constant danger, and Kieron Drake had to provide a save of the highest quality to deny Jackson.

Vince Rusher had been well marked all afternoon, but when he finally got away from his marker, he drifted past Shaw's attempt to bring him down, and scored to put the Lions back on terms.

In the 62nd minute a long crossfield bar kick found Rea, whose header appeared to be saved by Shaw. But Richard Hirst, attempting to play safe, only managed to head into his own net.

Five minutes later the Lions' transformation was complete when McNulty's header from Bennett's cross flashed into the net.

Totton then throw everything at the Lions, who defended manfully. Drake came out with another top-drawer save but could not prevent Totton's second goal two minutes from time.