Andover NS 1,Winchester City 1

ANDOVER New Street became the first side this season to take a point off runaway Hants League leaders Winchester City on Tuesday night - with just 10 men!

Street skipper Kevin Knight was red carded midway through the first half after a mass brawl broke out between the two sides after Street defender Dave Dunn was struck in the face by a Winchester player.

When it had all settled down the Knight was the only player to be sent off but others from both sides were fortunate not to have followed the Street defender.

Street's Dave Allen also played for more than an hour with a head wound and he received lengthy treatment before he finally had to quit the action with blood flowing from the wound five minutes from the end, and after the game he went off to hospital to have it stitched.

Street had gone ahead after 15 minutes with midfielder Colin Vince scoring his first goal for the club and they kept Winchester out until the last 10 minutes when they managed to salvage a point with an equaliser from former Andover player Matt Bicknell.

Street had other chances to have killed the game off through Nic Turpin and Bobby Swayne whilst Winchester obviously also had a few chances with the team they have got but Dave Tasker was in outstanding form in the Street goal.

"We got at them from the start," said Street boss Gary Prince, "and never let them play, even when we were down to 10 men. It was a fantastic effort by the lads."

Street, who have now taken a point off the top two sides in the league with them also having drawn 2-2 at home with second placed East Cowes earlier in the season, have now only lost once in their last eight games.

Street had Charlie Spencer making his debut alongside Turpin in attack with his usual partner Matt Styles in intensive care in hospital with a serious head injury after falling down the stairs at a friends' home on Sunday.

Prince went to visit the 22-year-old Styles in hospital on Tuesday and spent a couple of hours with him "Naturally, it's affected all the players and we're all upset about it," said the Street manager. "It's going to be a long haul. All our thoughts are with him and everyone at the club hopes he will recover as quickly as possible."

Andover New Street (5-3-2): Tasker; Baybutt, Allen, Dunn, Keogh, Knight (capt); Swinney, Swayne, Vince; Spencer, Turpin. Subs: Wates (for Allen 85 mins), Fisher, Grocott (not used).