Andover Town1–3○Bemerton Heath Harlequins

Andover Town’s attempt to secure the Salisbury Hospital Cup for a second time came to an end at the Portway on Monday Evening. At the end of their inaugural season Andover, then a Wessex Division one side, beat Bemerton to win the trophy but a repeat of that result this time around was made difficult after Luke Dempsey was sent off after twenty minutes. Due to work commitments Liam Hibberd, Jason Silver and McAulie Stubbs were unavailable for this match whilst Ben Cook was cup tied. Alex Dockree was amongst the substitutes and his return was warmly welcomed by the Town faithful. Before the game got underway Alan Mussell presented Zach Glasspool with a memento to acknowledge his achievement in scoring fifty goals for the club.

In the early stages Manny Soetan twice went close for Andover and it took Bemerton almost fifteen minutes to put in a shot on target. With twenty minutes played Luke Dempsey and Bemerton’s Elloitt Cross tangled just outside the area and the referee indicated a free kick.In the meantime the scuffle continued and Cross fell down inside the area. Contentiously the match official gave Dempsey a straight red and then incredulously signalled a penalty. Once the inevitable protest died away Jake Rawkins took the spot kick but justice was served as Luke Cairney saved well at the expense of a corner. Reece Rusher’s rich vein of recent form was continuing and after Mike Gosney put him clear he cut in from the right but his well struck shot hit the far post. Connor Cocklin and Michael Hubbard both went narrowly wide as Andover put their opponents under pressure.However two minutes before the interval Bemerton nearly put themselves in the driving seat as Jake Burgess fired in with a twenty five yard volley.

Half time - Andover Town 0-1 Bemerton Heath Harlequins

Five minutes into the second period Bemerton were able to exploit their numerical advantage with a second goal. This was another long range effort similar to the first but Cross was the scorer on this occasion. To their credit Andover kept Bemerton on their toes with Gosney and Soetan finding the target if not the net. Andover finally got themselves back into the game with a goal that is a late contender for goal of the season. From just inside the opposition half Adam Costello, who with Rusher shared the player of the match award, sent a perfectly flighted cross to Glasspool on the edge of the area who in turn chested the ball down into the path of Mike Gosney who drilled an unstoppable shot wide of the goalkeeper's reach. That goal had the added significance of being the club’s six hundredth competitive goal. The visitor's reply was to use some delaying tactics that the Referee failed to clamp down on instead issuing cautions to Gosney and Glasspool for their justifiable protest. Andover continued to have more of the possession and with extra time available a second goal would have brought them a lifeline.However it was not to be and five minutes from time Jordon Matthews scored Bemerton’s third to seal Andover’s fate. Focus now turns towards next Tuesday’s Russell Cotes Cup Final and the opportunity to cap what is all ready a successful season.