Pirelli Gen 3, Andover NS 4

TRANSPLUS sponsored Andover New Street turned in their worst performance for weeks but came home with all three Hants Premier points last Saturday with diminutive striker Ali Hooper outjumping a 6ft 5ins defender to head the winner.

"It just goes to show what a funny old game it is," said Street manager Gary Prince. "We play well and get nothing, then win when we don't play well but it was about time we got the rub of the green and hopefully it will continue," added Prince.

The Street boss however was not complaining about gaining three priceless points thanks two goals from Nic Turpin and one apiece from Dave Dunn and Ali Hooper.

Street owed much to 'keeper Mark Smith, who made a string of outstanding saves throughout the game. "He was our man-of-the-match but both sides looked as though they might score every time they went forward. It was great entertainment for the supporters but not the managers.

Pirelli were a big and strong side and were a goal up inside five minutes but Street showed they were not going to be a pushover as they hit back with two goals in the next 10 minutes through Turpin breaking through for the equaliser and then the Pirelli 'keeper fumbling a cross from Dunn into his own net.

Pirelli levelled just before half time following a mix-up in the Street defence but they were back in front 10 minutes into the second half with another well taken goal from Turpin.

Pirelli carved out another equaliser but Street were not to be denied and Prince described their 70th minute winner as the 'only bit of football we played all day."

It came from a passing move that started deep in their own half went to Turpin out wide and he crossed into the box for Hooper to steal the winner with a magnificent headed goal.

Street continued their travels this Saturday with a trip to Hythe & Dibden, next Wednesday they are at home to Aldermaston (3pm), the following Saturday they are at home to Horndean and then have a New Year's Day local derby at Stockbridge (3pm).

Andover New Street (4-4-2): Smith; Austin, Prosser, Richmond, Dunn; Swayne, Styles, Fraser Bain, Craig Bain; Turpin, Ali Hooper. Subs: Fisher (for Swayne 85mins), Bailey (for Prosser 60 mins), Mat Hooper (for Ali Hooper 80 mins).

Andover New Street Res, who crashed 5-1 at home to JWL Combination leaders Weymouth last Saturday, have been awarded their JWL Combination Cup second round tie after local rivals Whitchurch Res played an ineligible player in the first leg at Foxcotte Park, which ended in a 3-3 draw.

East Cowes 4, Stockbridge 0

Stockbridge went to the Isle of Wight with an under-strength side last Saturday and suffered the consequence. "We had half the Reserves playing and it's quite a jump between playing in the North Hants League and the Hants Premier, especially against one of the top sides," said player-manager Barry Andrews.

A mix-and-match 'Bridge side did well for an hour but it all went pear-shaped after Karl Williams went off injured. He did a superb job on keeping tabs on the danger man in the East Cowes attack but after he went off there was just no-one to stop him and the home side scored a further two goals in the last 10 minutes.

A bumpy pitch did not help either side and 'Bridge missed two excellent chances before East Cowes went ahead just before half time. East Cowes got the decisive second goal with just over an hour gone and they would have had won by a much bigger margin but for some exceptional saves from Gavin Davis in goals. "They were all over us in the last 10 minutes," admitted Andrews.

'Bridge are at home to Poole this Saturday, have an 11 o'clock kick-off at home to Amesbury next Wedesday (Boxing Day), play their last match of the year away to Esso Fawley the following Saturday and then have their New Year's Day local derby with Andover New Street on Tuesday, 1 January (3pm).

Stockbridge (5-4-1): Davis; Atkins, Thomson, Savage, Williams, Smith; Hewitt, Butcher, Poultney, Daryl Vince; Paul Sanders. Subs: Burgess (for Williams 60 mins), Andrews (for Hewitt 75 mins).

Broughton 1, Hamble 1

Broughton's new managerial duo of Ian Hathaway and Graham Hornbuckle were in charge of the Hants Division Two club for the first time last Saturday.

They introduced two new players with Matt Nichol from Lugershall and Nick Wells from ADL junior side St Ives making their debuts in midfield but were still without a regular 'keeper with striker Andy Willougbhy taking over between the posts. James Morgan, a 16-year-old from Ludgershall, a fine game in defence.

The new managers were pleased with Broughton's first-half showing but not the second. "We played really well first half but ran out of steam in the second," summed up assistant manager Hornbuckle.

Jamie Bowditch broke clear to put Broughton ahead 10 minutes before the break from Fraser Porter's through but in the second half they looked a different side. "Hamble were quite a physical side but they showed they wanted it much more than us in the second half," added Hornbuckle.

The 32-year-old Hathaway, who made one appearance for JWL champions Andover last month, has a wealth of playing experience having previously been with West Brom, Mansfleld, Colchester, Torquay and Aldershot, took over the reins from former manager Howard Goddard and named Hornbuckle as his assistant.

They are both postmen and it was Hornbuckle who introduced the Ludgershall-based Hathway to the village club. Hornbuckle , who joined the Broughton this season, was told that his playing days were over after breaking a leg in last month's local derby with King's Somborne but has since made excellent progress and hopes to make a full recovery. Broughton (4-4-2): Willoughby; Rose, Collis, Morgan, Connolly; Nichol, Porter, Stuart Griffiths, Wells; Gavin, Bowditch. Subs: James Griffiths (for Nichol 70 mins), Gallagher (for Wells 80 mins).