ANDOVER Football Club were left wondering this week whether the recent icy conditions which have decimated sport have been a help or a hindrance.

The plummeting temperatures put paid to the derby with Winchester City on New Years’ Day and two days later the trip to Beaconsfield was aborted around lunchtime, despite an earlier inspection which was inconclusive.

With levels not getting much above freezing point since Christmas the chances of the Portway thawing out sufficiently for Tuesday’s game with Bishops Cleeve to go ahead were nil, and a noon inspection put everyone out of their collective misery. In truth with the squad still looking for its first league win since August and half the population tucked up in front of the fire fighting flu, sub zero football watching is on a par with Jonathan Ross in the popularity stakes at the moment.

Among the carnage, somehow the reclusive reserve side managed to play East Lodge in a Hampshire League 2004 game at the Portway, losing 3-2 on Saturday and were due to play at Whitchurch on Wednesday night in the Andover League Open Cup but at the time of going to press the outcome was unknown.

With the thaw not due to arrive until the weekend tomorrow’s home match with Bridgwater Town must be in doubt also and supporters are urged to contact the club before travelling. More likely to survive is Wednesday’s League Cup clash at Swindon Supermarine, kick-off 7.45.

Elsewhere the only local sides to see any action this week were Ludgershall Sports and Whitchurch United. Sports were at home to AFC Castrol in the Wiltshire Junior Cup and at half-time they were drawing 1-1 with the consistent Mark Radmore netting.

They took a deserved lead through Daniel Campos early in the second half but the game took a turn with AFC Castrol taking advantage of the low sun and they scored twice to dump Sports.

Over at Fleet Spurs Whitchurch climbed into the top ten of the Wessex League Division One at the weekend, after winning 2-1.

Now manager Brian Drury wants his side to kick on in January and claim a top six spot by the end of the month. On a day where playing football was never going to be easy, it proved a leveller against their lowly opposition. However, they still came away with all three points, as leading scorer Ian Davies found the net twice.

His first came after 15 minutes and then after the break he produced a stunning strike which hit the crossbar and post, before hitting the opposite post on its way into the back of the net.

As the pitch started to freeze, the visitors held onto their lead, with the home side getting a late consolation with an injury time penalty.

Talking after the game Drury said: “We now have a few games against the sides below us so I can see no reason, if we continue to play as we can, we couldn’t be in the top six come the end of January”

Tomorrow, his side are due to be at Downton, but look set to be without Mike Wheeler as he turned his ankle on Saturday. Pa Touray could also be missing as tries to recover from a groin strain.