Lions 1 Didcot Town 0.

Andover bounced back from their second half mauling at Taunton last week with a battling performance that earned them three precious points and a league double over promotion contenders Didcot Town on a wet afternoon at the Portway.

Lions' starting line up showed two changes with Glen Damen and Joe Bye replacing the unwell Dean Stow and the suspended Ben Wright while the visitors included three former Lions in their ranks in Matt Bicknell, Ashley Vine and Vince Rusher, the latter recently signed from Thatcham Town. Vine put an early header past Dave Hook's post then Mike Turvey shot straight at keeper Mike Watkins and Rusher provided a chance for Paul Powell but the winger fired across the face of the goal.

Vine shot straight at Hook from a narrow angle and the visitors looked to have gone ahead when Witt pushed home a Rusher header from a yard out but the talented wide man was adjudged offside. Lions' best chance of the half, fashioned by Craig Martin and Bobby Swayne, saw Bye's shot go into the ground and then Watkins' arms and Ben Buckland blocked Rusher after the latter's trademark step over had made him some space. The half ended with Watkins narrowly beating Jamie Laidlaw to a Bye through ball.

Rusher missed the sort of chance he usually swallows immediately after the break rounding Hook but firing into the side netting and within ten minutes the home side had taken the lead. Buckland and Bye made ground on the left and the latter's swerving cross-cum-shot sailed over Watkins and into the far corner. The keeper, caught out once in no man's land, nearly suffered the same fate again as a lob from distance by Laidlaw shaved the outside of the post.

Didcot added another striker as Odhiambo came on for Bicknell, then Buckland and Bobby Swayne collected yellow cards and Rusher suffered the same fate after a late challenge on Damen and this was to be the last action for the ex-Andover striker as he was replaced by Mulvaney.

Kyle Swayne replaced Brynley McKie and shot over after fine work from Turvey and Bye and then grazed the outside of the far post after more fine work from the Lions' left where Bye's nonstop efforts and performance won him the LOCAL man of the match award.

Didcot, desperate to continue their promotion challenge, threw everything forward but Matt Davies and Owen Elias stood firm in the centre of the home defence and Hook was quickly down at Odhiambo's feet when the striker did get clear. Adam Heath and Tas Roberts replaced the hard working Turvey and Laidlaw but the Lions had to survive nearly four minutes of stoppage time during which both Vine and Odhiambo saw headers saved by Hook before the final whistle confirmed the three points.

With Bracknell losing and Slough's game at Bridgwater postponed the table has a slightly healthier look from the Andover viewpoint.

Team: Hook, Martin, Davies, Elias, Buckland, McKie, Damen, Bobby Swayne, Bye, Laidlaw, Turvey.

Subs: Anderson, Andrews, Heath, Kyle Swayne, Roberts.

12:01pm Wednesday 19th March 2008

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