Andover Town0–1○Sholing

Comment from the Andover Advertiser . .

ANDOVER Town's Wessex Premier League season got off to a losing start at the Portway on Tuesday night as they were beaten 1-0 by title hopefuls Sholing. Jake Hoole scored the only goal of the game, curling the ball into the bottom right corner to give the visitors a deserved lead midway through the first half.

However, there were signs of promise from Town, who performed particularly well in the second half in front of an 111 strong Portway crowd. Meanwhile the visitors, hotly tipped to mount a title charge this season, showed their class with retained star Byron Mason putting in a man-of-the-match performance. Andover, who are also expected to challenge for honours this season, will be hoping to bounce back when they face Alresford at the Portway next Tuesday.

Report from Patrick Barlow;- "Andover were unlucky not to take any points from a closely fought game at the Portway Stadium in their opening match of the 2016/17 Wessex League Premier campaign, as they were held out by title contenders Sholing FC. First Team manager John Robson looked to continue on the success of pre-season, after an impressive 5-0 win against local rivals Andover New Street in the final game before their first league fixture. Goal scorers Adam Grange, Liam Gilbert and Chris Onoufriou all started, with Craig Stanley starting on the bench. There was also starts for Joe Wright, Ross Gregory and Cassius Newton, who were all making their first league start for the club. Sholing also named a strong side, with Byran Mason, Jake Hoole and Alex Sawyer all starting for the away team. Andover looked in control of play in the opening stages of the game, but it was Sholing who struck first in the opening 15 mins. Zac Mouland Combined with winger Hoole in the middle of the pitch, with Hoole calmly slotting the ball past Town goalkeeper Jamie Bray from the edge of the box. Sholing dominated the first half from thereon, and almost consolidated their lead when midfielder and captain Byran Mason ran past 3 Andover players, only for his low shot to be well saved by Bray.

Sholing started the second half strongly and had a great chance to put Town even further behind when Jake Hoole’s shot flew very close to the crossbar, only to go over for a goal kick. As Andover’s young winger Adam Grange was forced off due to injury to be replaced by Craig Stanley, Town created some good chances to equalize but were only able to come close when Stanley’s cross was cleared by Keeper Ryan Gosney just moments before Town midfielder Liam Gilbert was able to latch on to the ball. As Town tried to equal the score line, it was Danny Urry who was able to link up with substitute Craig Stanley, whose left footed shot was saved low by Gosney to stop the home side from levelling. Chris Onoufriou was then unable to beat on-form Gosney, who again denied Andover when the midfielder’s 25-yard shot was brilliantly saved on the ground by the Sholing Goalkeeper. Andover were unable to level the match before referee Gareth Bridge blew for full time, and go in to the weekend with their first loss of the season, looking to progress in this year’s FA Cup, in which they host Royal Wootton Bassett Town at the Portway."