Two goals in the last 15 minutes gave Andover victory as they retained the Dango Cup on Saturday in front of a good, if damp crowd at Foxcotte Park.
It was the climax of what is always a well run and anticipated pre season tournament and it was fitting that New Street and Andover should contest the final, in memory of Glenn Anderson, who played for both clubs with distinction until his tragic death in 1987.
In the end it was the introduction of substitute Danny Sullivan which swung the game, as it did on the Tuesday against Whitchurch, as his corner with 15 minutes left set up Mark James then Sullivan himself bundled in the winner seven minutes later after Tommy Langfree escaped down the right. Lions boss Andy Leader had an almost full squad at his disposal including both Swaynes with Sullivan, Davies and Matt Styles on the bench while New Street boss Glenn Butterfield welcomed Scott Tarrant and Dane Adams to the fray with the potentially lethal combination of Nic Turpin and Vinnie Rusher leading the attack. Kyle Joryeff had the first chance for the Lions but scuffed his shot then Tarrant’s long pass set up Rusher who hooked over from distance. Sean Cook then should have done better when set free on the left before John Robb at the heart of the Street defence, did well to deny Joryeff as he was about to shoot. Kyle Swayne shot wide after Street lost the ball in midfield and at the other end Adams connected well with a 20-yard volley which new Lions’ keeper Chris Waller, fresh from Basingstoke Town Reserves last season, did well to parry.
Kevin Healey had a shot saved on the half hour before Fraser Bain set up Rusher whose right foot shot was again saved by Waller. Minutes before the break Cook and Joe Wright combined to set up Kyle Swayne but he blazed over when well placed.
Leader introduced Davies for Kyle Swayne at half-time and as the rain poured down chances came and went. Sullivan was sent on around the hour mark and almost made an immediate impact as his corner was hacked off the line by Tarrant then Davies missed badly after being let free on the right before New Street took the lead on 65 minutes. Tarrant’s pass found Rusher on the right and he netted with a cross shot from his less favoured right foot.
Minutes later another Tarrant pass found Turpin free down the middle and he nodded in over Waller but the offside flag was up to save Lions.
From then as Street began to tire Andover took control and after more substitutions Sullivan’s corner was too much for the defence and James’s paowerful header flew past Danny Harrison. Five minutes later Sean Murphy’s pass found Langfree who beat the offside flag and his squared pass was tapped in by an alert Sullivan. Just on the whistle Rusher lined up a free-kick 30 yards out but it went inches wide with Waller a spectator and the cup stayed at the Portway for another year.
Sean Cook was given the Player of the Tournament award and Bobby Swayne took the cup after a day where both clubs honoured the memory of Glenn Anderson in fine style.
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