○Spelthorne Sports2–3Andover Town

Andover Town fought a very close battle against challenging opposition to progress into the next round of the FA Cup. Two goals for Craig Stanley and one for Adam Grange were enough for Town to go one further than last year’s cup run, as they beat Spelthorne Sports 3-2. Andover named a changed team to the one unable to take a point from Bemerton in midweek, as Joe Woodward and Craig Blakeman replacing JJ Tucker and Liam Gilbert in the Starting XI. Connor Cocklin was also replaced after his injury in the previous game, with Craig Stanley took his place. Craig Atkinson and Alex Dockree also started. Spelthorne named a strong side as Joe Hughes, Tommy Mooney and Rob Smith started for the home side, who beat Hartley Witney 4-3 to get into this fixture. Town got off to a flying start when they were able to take the lead within the first 15 minutes. After Rudi Plummer was able to play a brilliant pass to the on running Adam Grange, who was able to run behind his marker to convert low against goalkeeper Dane Buss. Spelthorne almost scored midway through the first half when Joe Hughes was able to steal the ball off Craig Blakeman to get a shot on goal, although his shot was fired just over the crossbar for a goal kick. The home side were able to equalise seconds before half time, after a cross from Tommy Mooney was picked up by the wind to take it over Craig Atkinson and to Hughes, whose shot across goal was tapped in on the line by Lee Staples to make the score 1-1 going into the break. Andover took the lead early in the half when Craig Stanley was able to burst down the wing from halfway, and his 20-yard shot was blasted low past the keeper to put Town in control. It was not long later though that Spelthorne levelled once again after Mooney’s shot on the edge of the penalty area trickled through the Andover defence and into the goal to make the score 2-2. Andover left it until the 75th minute to score a winner as Craig Stanley was able to engineer a brilliant chance from 30 yards away, as his shot powered from outside the box and sailed into the top left corner past the Spelthorne goalkeeper to put the game beyond Spelthorne. There was late drama as Spelthorne had a player sent off. After a foul on Craig Stanley from just inside Andover’s half by Rob Smith, the referee was given no choice but to show the player a second yellow card to reduce the side to 10 men. Andover progress into the first qualifying round, and will face phoenix side Farnborough FC at the Portway on September 3. Before then, they have a midweek fixture away in the Hampshire Senior Cup against Bournemouth Poppies, as well as matches against Bashley and local rivals Whitchurch United.