Whitchurch United 4–1 Andover Town

The 'Jamboys' moved comfortably in to the last four of the North Hants Senior Cup against Andover Town, with a dominant second half performance but anyone who watched the opening fifteen minutes would not, at that stage, have envisaged the final scoreline. Quite simply the home side hardly had a kick during that time but Andover’s failure to turn their early superiority into goals coupled with subsequent defensive failings turned the game on its head.

The visitors had far the better start apart from scything a Whitchurch cross over their own bar and play was almost entirely in the home side’s half with attacks down both flanks causing problems, and Rueben Smith should have perhaps done better when he failed to make proper contact with a Connor Cullingford cross at the far post. New signing Zac Hine was continually involved and it was no surprise when they took the lead after fifteen minutes. Smith more than made up for his earlier lapse with a run down the right before pulling the ball back in to Harrison Hale’s path and the shot flew high into the top of the net. The home side’s main threat came from Craig Rutledge’s pace on the left and Town keeper Dave Tasker twice had to leave his area to deny the speedy wide man. At the other end Owen Trapnell was inches too high with a header from a corner and Tom Pattinson bought a fine diving save out of keeper Konrad Szymaniak before the home side produced an equaliser seemingly out of nowhere on the thirty minute mark. There seemed little danger when Whitchurch were awarded a free kick on the right touchline halfway inside the Andover half but when Connor Bloomfield swung the ball high into the area not one defender moved as Declan Shuttleworth rose at the far post to head home. The free kick had travelled a long way ! Cullingford collected a caution for a challenge and was then substituted, though as the Competition demeans itself by allowing rolling substitutions, he had every chance of re-joining the game at some stage and probably did so. With no more real threats on either goal half time came with the scores level and the home side probably a little relieved.

Half time - Whitchurch United 1-1 Andover Town

Visiting skipper Brendan Holmes was too straight with a shot from distance on the re-start and Trapnell was cautioned for a trip that may not have been intentional. Ryan Long, for the home side, saw a header well held by Tasker and a Holmes run and cross found no blue shirts in the area but it was Whitchurch who were now enjoying more of the possession. Trapnell was warned for another challenge and Gary Thorne cautioned for a rather cynical trip before the home side took the lead midway through the half. Nick Yeomans found space on the left and his low cross was turned in at the far post by Lloyd Thompson as the ball passed through and again a static defence. Tasker was forced to leave his area to deny the same player and Shuttleworth was just too high before claiming his second goal with ten minutes remaining. The ball was played down the left touchline and the big striker gave the defender five yards start, overhauled him and went on to slide the ball past Tasker with the defender holding a watching brief. A poor clearance by Tasker saw Aaron Randall strike the post and Long adjudged offside when he put the rebound in the net before more poor defending gave the red and white shirts another chance. An unnecessary challenge just inside the area was penalised by the award of a penalty but Tasker pushed Shuttleworth’s kick on to and over the bar to deny the taker his hat trick but, there was still time for a fourth as the game reached the ninety minute mark. Again Shuttleworth was involved, his fierce drive bouncing back of the goalkeeper and Long was much quicker than the defence to re-act, firing the loose ball into the net to cap a satisfactory win for the home side.

Whitchurch are enjoying a good season so far and deserved the win but for Andover it was the recurring problem. The try to, and frequently do, play some nice football but the loss of Shaquille Gwengwe in the close season has left them a little light and there are simply too many defensive errors but the season is still very much in its infancy.