TRANSPLUS sponsored Andover New Street want former Andover and Salisbury star Sean Sanders to help bring on their youngsters and have put in a seven-day approach to Hants Premier rivals Stockbridge for the 37-year-old who is equally at home playing in either defence or attack.

New Street boss Gary Prince indicated last week that he wanted to bring in three or four experienced players and it would seem that Sanders is the first on his shopping list.

Veterans Sanders is currently out of the Stockbridge side with him having problems with a re-occuring knee injury but he as vast experience and Street might want him to take on a coaching role, but Prince would say no more than that they had put in an approach to see whether he is interested in joining them.

'Bridge boss Barry does not think Sanders will be joining Street as a player. "I've spoken to him and I don't think he will be signing for them. He's having a bit of a break from playing at the moment, he's having trouble with his knees, but he'll be back after having a rest and will come back a lot fresher."

Both Street and 'Bridge had last Saturday's home games against Brading and Hythe & Dibden respectively called off due to waterlogged pitches but both were in action earlier in the week.

Street almost pulled off a shock result at high-flying Poole where they fought back to level terms in the second half after being 2-0 down at the break but eventually lost 5-2 after conceding three goals in the last six minutes.

"It was a great team effort to get back into the game but our lack of experience let us down again," summed up manager Prince.

"The third goal came against the run of play and was the one that did the damage but I was delighted at the way we played and were unlucky to come away with the result we deserved."

With Dave Tasker out for a month after undergoing surgery on a knee, Street 3rd XI 'keeper Colin Reid took over between the post and was beaten twice in the first half.

Prince brought on Matt Hooper at the start of the second half to play wide on the right and he made all the difference.

"He was outstanding ande gave Poole all sorts of problems," said the Street manager.

It took them only five minutes to pull a goal back through Shevron Fisher and five minutes later Matt Styles deservedly levelled the scores. Street might easily have come away with all three points as they went close on a number of occasions and had Poole hanging on until they broke away to score their third goal against the run of play with six minutes left.

Andover New Street (4-5-1): Reid; Austin, Bailey, Prosser, Dunn; Waters, Fisher, Swayne, Styles, Bain; Turpin. Subs: Matt Hooper (for Sway 46 mins), Ford (not used).

'Bridge suffered yet another home defeat last Wednesday when losing 2-0 at home to East Cowes in the Hants Premier. "We huffed and puffed, they were not a bad side but we did not have any recognised forwards available," summed up player-manager Andrews.

Paul Odey was away working, Sean Sanders was unavailable, Paul Sanders was sidelined with hamstring trouble while Jon Holman and John Sibley were also injured and up front had Colin Vince partnering Andy Winton, who came in from the Reserves.

'Bridge had a couple of chances and Vince might have won it for them. Andrews said that Vince was one of their most improved players this season.

"I left him out for one game but since he's been back he's done every so well and I've been impressed with his attitude," he added.

The game remained goal-less until the last quarter with East Cowes breaking the deadlock after 70 minutes and they sealed the points with a second goal 10 minutes from the end.

"Now we're just one point off the bottom but, apart from Aldermaston the previous week, we've not played a bad side yet all season," said Andrews.

Stockbridge (5-3-2): Dave; Atkins, Savage, Thomson, Allen, Smith; Poultney, Butcher, Curran; Vince, Winton. Subs: Nichols (for Savage 75 mins), Andrews (not used).