Andover 9, Swanage Town 0
ANDOVER bowed out with a one-sided stroll in their last home league game of the season at The Portway last Saturday with striker Paul Odey - affectionately known to the Lions' faithful as 'The Honeymonster' - starting and finishing the nine-goal spree.
Odey might easily have trebled his final tally when standing in for the injured Andy Forbes as the home side cruised to their three easiest points of the season against the struggling Swans who had problems raising a side.
It came as no great surprise that many of the Swanage regulars didn't fancy the trip, especially after suffering a 14-0 drubbing in the corresponding fixture last season, but they are likely to survive for another season at least in the JWL with bottom club Hamble almost certain to be the side to be relegated.
Vince Rusher led the scoring with his third hat-trick of the season and as well as Odey's double Lloyd Webber weighed in with his third brace in as many games and the other goals came from Shaun Dyke and Dave Asker.
There were no worries for Kieron Drake in the home goal as the Swans never looked like forcing a corner let alone produce a shot on goal worthy of the name.
The Lions squandered numerous chances on a hard and bumpy pitch but it was always going to be a case of how many after Odey notched the first after just two minutes with a rare headed goal.
They were 4-0 up at the break with Dyke continuing his recent run of good form with the second goal, Rusher drilled the third and Webber slotted the fourth with a fine solo effort.
Webber suffered a worrying knock early in the second half but he soon shrugged it off to tap in Andover's fifth goal. Rusher pounced with the next two goals in five minutes to complete his hat-trick and there was some farciical finishing before Asker burst through to make it 8-0.
Odey had the last word when completing the scoring as the Lions took their tally for the season in league and cup to 216 - two more than they scored in last season's memorable campaign.
They still have five games to improve their tally with this Saturday's probable title decider at Fleet Town following Wednesday's local derby at Whitchurch plus three cup finals.
The final curtain on the season at The Portway comes down next Tuesday when the Lions take on Winchester City in the final of the North Hants Senior Cup (7.30pm).
The Lions also face Fleet Town in the final of the JWL Cup at Gosport's Privett Park ground on Monday, 6 May (3pm), and finish the season at Bournemouth's Victoria Park two days later in the final of the Russell-Cotes Cup (7.30pm).
Andover (4-4-2): Drake; Kennedy, Barker, Damen, Bicknell; Asker, Webber, Walsh, Dyke; Odey, Rusher. Subs: Freeman (for Kennedy 53 mins), Whale (for Walsh 61 mins), Crossley (for Barker 70 mins).
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