Whitchurch United 1 Andover 3

In an age when winning matches seems more important than winning friends, the attitude of the two managers at Longmeadow on Easter Monday stood out, writes Steven Baxter.

Andover's Howard Goddard put one over on the club he left in unhappy circumstances 18 months ago - but there was no triumphalism from the Lions boss. And United's Derek Smalley, who has given United a fighting chance of avoiding relegation, was gracious in defeat, despite his disappointment.

Both were a credit to their clubs, as a good-natured derby day saw Goddard's Lions run out winners thanks to another hat-trick from golden boy Justin Bennett.

The Andover star struck a sweet volley in the first minute that was saved expertly by United's Dave Smalley before he opened the scoring on 23 minutes. A superb pass from Vince Rusher split the offside trap, and Bennett dealt with a bobbling ball, whipping it into the net with the outside of his right boot.

It was tough on Whitchurch, who had caused the Lions all sorts of problems in the opening period - but Smalley's side responded immediately.

Whitchurch got back in the game through former Basingstoke man Marcus Stapleton, whose superb finish a minute later gave United a deserved share of the spoils at half-time. And they had other chances, as Chris Iddles' excellent volley brushed the post and George Pitts headed wide from a corner; but Andover also missed opportunities, as Kevin Reacord and Mario Nurse failed to find the goal.

Goddard made changes at half-time, and the greater fitness of the Lions began to tell. Nurse terrorised his former club down the wing as Andover went for five across midfield, and with Danny Sullivan on the other flank the visitors put in cross after cross.

Whitchurch held firm, though, and constantly won the ball from Andover -- but all too often it went straight back to the visitors to start another attack.

United's back line were tireless in their efforts, but couldn't stem the attacks forever. Rusher, who hit the bar as well as setting up all three goals, put in Nurse down the left, whose cross worked its way through the flying bodies to find Bennett. He lashed the second goal in off the bar, and United were done for.

Bennett, who had an entertaining duel with Steve Morris all afternoon, was then felled by the United defender just outside the box, and showed maturity to accept the challenge, pick himself off and find the right place at the back post to head home Rusher's free-kick.

No-one at Andover was pleased so see Whitchurch put closer to relegation, and for their dignity on and off the field the visitors deserve a lot of credit. United were dignified, too, and bore their derby defeat in good character, as devastating as it was.

There are many teams at this level of football who would do well to learn from that kind of behaviour; and the Wessex league will be the poorer if United fail to win at Christchurch on Saturday.