Andover Town3–2○Eastleigh E.D.S.

Despite having all the usual ingredients of a pre-season encounter this was an excellent game of football. The possible outcome of the season proper should not be judged on one pre-season encounter but there were aspects of this match that will have encouraged the Andover Town coaching staff. The Portway Stadium was in pristine condition following the hard work of Ben Hood and his team who have spent long hours giving the ground a much needed make over.

Andover had the best possible start taking the lead inside the first minute.The Eastleigh goalkeeper could only push away Michael Donavan's long range effort and from the subsequent corner Adam Patterson bundled the ball over the line. It was all Andover for the next ten minutes but the well drilled visitors twice went close before equalising . They were awarded what seemed to be a somewhat fortuitous penalty which Dan Bradshaw easily converted. David Jerrad went close for Andover before the impressive Josh Hewson and equally impressive Brendon Holmes linked up only for a defender to intervene at the expense of a corner. The final fifteen minutes of the first period saw Andover in the ascendancy and they were rewarded when Zack Hine volleyed in Hewson’s deep cross.Just befre the break Hewson was upended in the box but Jerrad’s penalty was well saved.

Half time - Andover Town 2-1 Eastleigh D.S.

Both teams made multiple changes at the start of the second half and understandably as a result the games previous high tempo dropped a few notches. However, within five minutes of the restart, Eastleigh scored their second of the evening with a speculative forty yard volley. Two minutes later Andover restored their lead when the referee signalled their second penalty of the evening. One of the second half replacements Ben Emans made converted the spot kick which was too strong for the goalkeeper who went the right way. Dave Tasker who sat out the first half made two excellent saves in quick succession to deny the visitors their third equaliser and Andover continued to remain resolute at the back and record a satisfactory result.