Shaftesbury 4 (Davidson 8, Pitman 64, 72, Green 66)
Andover New Street 5 (Thatcher 43, Williams 56, Carswell 68, Herbert 80, Lock Pen 90+2)
By Avril Lancaster
A crazy game at Cockrams saw Andover New Street convert an injury time penalty from Sean Lock in a nine goal game to end the ‘Rockies’ league season before the play offs.
Though the ‘Rockies’ made some changes and Brett Pitman’s two goals moved him onto 57 in the league full credit to the ‘Swifts’ who hit back from 4-3 down when former ‘Rockies’ player Claudio Herbert headed in Lewis Williams cross to level the score at 4-4.
Shaftesbury took an early lead when Dan Bartlett’s cross was headed past Sean O’Brien by Sam Davidson to open the scoring. New Street got on top and Cameron Thatcher slotted an equaliser just before the break.
The second half saw Williams get clear to net with a deflected shot before Pitman levelled with a header from Ryan King’s cross then substitute Stuart Green turned the defence to slot home. The visitors responded almost immediately when Jake Carswell hit a 25 yarder past Shane Murphy to level again at 3-3.
Cameron Beard found Pitman to put us ahead with Herbert’s header squaring the game at 4-4 before Lock’s penalty won the day for Andover New Street.
King, George Bennett and Tyson Pollard all got some gametime in with King impressing. It was Andover New Street s day however and we move onto face AFC Portchester here on Wednesday in the play off semi final.
Rockies – Murphy, Perrett, Davidson, Wells, Bennett, Bartlett, Pitman, Sweeney, Pollard, Peel, King
Subs used – Beard, Green Farrugia
Andover New Street – O’Brien, Cameron, Gee, Carswell, Hassell, Thatcher, Lock, Williams, Tulk, Herbert, Davis
Subs used – Mellor, Morris
Sin Bin – Herbert (Andover New Street)
Booked – Lock (Andover New Street)
Officials – C.Davis, R.Burton, A.Lockley
Attendance -264
Steady Eddie – Eddie Perrett heads an effort in on the Andover New Street goal.
