Andover Town2–2○Whitchurch United

Andover Town can have no complaints after they surrendered a two goal advantage in this North Hants Senior Cup tie allowing Whitchurch to win the subsequent Penalty Shoot out and confirm their place in the semi final draw. Andover fielded a strong side, with Liam Hibberd making his fiftieth appearance, and whilst not at their best appeared to have done enough when they went two goals ahead with twenty minutes left but Whitchurch came back strongly levelling the scores in the last minute of regulatory time.

Both sides had early chances before Jason Silver gave Andover the lead just past the twenty minute mark, drilling the ball into the top corner from the edge of the area. The best chance for Whitchurch,in an otherwise lack lustre first half, came as Callum Williams raced clear but Luke Cairney covered the angle well to deny the opportunity McCaulie Stubbs for Andover and Williams had half chances in what otherwise was a below par first half.

Half time - Andover Town 1-0 Whitchurch United

Reece Rusher and Matt Scott came off the bench at the start of the second half to replace Zach Glasspool and Luke Dempsey respectively. An excellent run by Silver was wasted with no colleague quick enough to anticipate his pull back and at the other end another on target effort by Williams produced another excellent save by Cairney. On the hour mark Ben Cook’s volley struck a post but ten minutes later he scored Andover’s second from close range that owed much to Reece Rusher’s persistence in the build up. At this stage Whitchurch were the better side and any thoughts Andover had of closing the barn door were quickly dispelled as Nick Yeomans fine header brought his side a lifeline. The visitors certainly raised the stakes in the final ten minutes but Andover appeared to be hanging on to their narrow lead. However in the final minute of normal time Kieran Winman took advantage of Andover’s failure to clear their lines to fire in past Cairney to set up the penalty kick lottery. Each side scored four of their first five attempts and both missed their sixth. Whitchurch scored with their next four but Andover could only convert three.