Cup success all round for Lions

1:47am Wednesday 8th October 2008

Andover 6 Newport IOW 3.

Andover progressed to the next round of the Hampshire Senior Cup on Tuesday night, but only after an opening half hour when it looked as though, as per the last two seasons, they may have gone out to a Wessex League side.

The visitors started much the brighter with Mark Seabrooke volleying them into a 12th minute lead and when Dean Stow equalised on the half hour Tom McInnes promptly put the visitors back in front before two goals in five minutes from Ashley Jarvis and Kyle Swayne gave the home side the interval lead. Jarvis tucked home a Gary Connolly cross while Swayne's effort from outside the area was the best of the night. No doubt fired up at half- time the Lions were much more positive on the re-start and went on to dominate the second period.

A Paul Jones header made it four, substitute Steve Boston sent Brynley McKie away for number five and Boston himself scored the sixth, neatly controlling a cross and beating keeper Sam Webb before Chris Elliott claimed a third for the Islanders in injury time. In the end it was a comfortable victory but with Jamie O'Rourke at the heart of things Newport certainly gave them something to think about in the opening 30 minutes.

Hook, Connolly, Paul Jones, Matt Jones, Williams, McKie, Ward, Stow, Turvey, Kyle Swayne, Jarvis, Subs: Bobby Swayne, Elias, Boston, Andrews, Barron.

The Reserves beat Frimley 4-3 in the Intermediate Cup on Saturday. They took an early lead through Dave Nassoori but Frimley equalised soon after. Andover went in at the break leading 2-1 after a good move resulted in Harry Burt scoring.

In the second half Nassoori made the game look comfortable with his second goal but Frimley soon pulled it back to 3-3. With minutes to spare Nassoori completed his hat-trick and sent the Lions through to the next round.

Depending on which website is to believed, the Reserves are home tomorrow to either Denmead and Purbrook or Michelmersh and Timsbury.

On Tuesday the Lions go to Gosport Borough for a league game, providing Borough do not draw with Dorchester Town in the FA Cup tomorrow.

Vinnie Rusher's move to Gosport this week had not gone through at the time of going to press and it is still uncertain whether he will play in either of the matches in the next week.

Further news will be posted on the Advertiser website.