Andover Town5–1○Bashley

After several disappointing cup results Andover Town returned to league action and trounced Bashley to record their sixth victory from as many league games. 'Man of the Match' Mike Gosney scored a Hat Trick and with a little more luck could have had three more whilst Zach Glasspool chipped in the a brace as the team side recorded their second best result of the season so far. Kieran McHardy came in for his first league start of the season and Liam Gilbert returned after being unavailable for the last two matches. Before the start club vice chairman Chris White was presented with the Wessex League’s team of the month award for August by League Chairman Ian Hoare. Sometimes an award of this nature is often seen as a millstone around the recipients team neck and a few of the Town faithful may have thought that way when Bashley scored an early goal.

After an opening salvo from Andover, Bashley worked their way down the left and when the cross came in Ben Bolton shrugged off his marker to fire in just inside the post. However, Bashley’s Mike Edgar became the busier of the two goalkeepers but he could do little about Andover’s equaliser. Jason Silver put in a neat cross to Glasspool who laid the ball off to Mike Gosney to complete the move and score. McHardy used his body well to deny Lewis Ross a goal whilst at the other end Edgar kept Gosney’s drive out in a similar fashion. The way the game developed further goals became a strong possibility and it was Andover who proved the point. The goal arrived shortly before the break and Mike Gosney’s finish owed much to Glasspool’s assist.

Half Time - Andover Town 2-1 Bashley

Bashley made a strong start to the second half. Luke Dempsey had to clear off the line after McHardy misjudged a long ball into his area. Then Harrison White skimmed the cross bar as Andover continued to ride their luck. Just before the hour mark Andover won a midfield tussle which allowed Mike Gosney to stride away unchallenged to claim his hat trick. White tried again to no avail to get the New Forest side back into the game whilst both Alex Dockree and Luke Dempsey were cautioned by a referee who throughout the match had been a little pernickety. Fifteen minutes were left when Liam Gilbert displayed some ball aerobatics and was fouled inside the area and Zach Glasspool duly despatched the spot kick sending Edgar the wrong way. For the third time Andover's keeper, Kieran McHardy prevented White getting onto the score sheet and then there were near misses for Reece Rusher and McAulie Stubbs at the other end. Two minutes into added time Bashley gave Zach Glasspool far to much space and he grabbed the chance to score his second goal of the match.