Cowes Sports 1, Andover 4

AFTER a poor Easter return of only two points CFL sponsored Andover made the long journey to the Isle of Wight last week with the knowledge that the clash with Cowes was a must win situation.

Accordingly, hearts and minds were well focused and the Lions returned from Westwood Park with maximum points for the first time since 1960.

The game, in which their was hardly a bad tackle, was never allowed to flow by a referee who seemed to have his whistle permanently attached to his lips.

He issued eight yellow cards, only one of which appeared to be justified, and after an hour's play red carded Andover striker Andy Forbes for an offence that was not immediately obvious to the Lions' travelling support.

Cowes looked sharp up front and the Lions defence, yet again well marshalled by skipper Danny Barker, were kept on their toes. However, it was the Lions who opened the scoring with former Saints striker Leroy Whale recalling days of yesteryear when his header drifted in beneath the crossbar after an effort by Forbes was only half cleared.

Six minutes later Cowes levelled against the run of play with the Islanders' leading scorer Nigel Stevens finding the back of the net after Lions 'keeper Kieron Drake, attempting to clear, twice fumbled the ball.

Whale went off at half time to be replaced by Paul Odey but in the second half the referee continued to fill his note book. The match could have gone either way but the Lions finally killed off Cowes with two goals inside a minute.

Drake made amends for his earlier error when Forbes beat the Cowes 'keeper to a long clearance and guided the ball into an empty net and straight from the re-start Odey smartly intercepted and nobody could stop him as he ran 40 yards to score the Lions third goal.

After Forbes' dismissal the Lions held firm against the home side's numerical advantage before breaking out to notch a fourth goal two minutes from the end, Odey again went one-on-one with the home 'keeper, who never had a chance.,

Andover (4-4-2): Drake; Freeman, Barker, Crossley, Bicknell; Asker, Webber, Walsh, Dyke; Forbes, Whale. Subs: Odey (for Whale 46 mins), Kennedy (not used).