Cup triumph for Andover U17s

3:18pm Wednesday 14th May 2008

Following their semi-final win at the Portway seven days earlier Andover U17 travelled to Cove on Sunday to take on the home U18 side in the final of the Ash Trophy.

Conditions were far removed from the Portway with a hard uneven playing surface making control difficult and though the home side probably shaded the first half neither team created a clear cut chance. After the break Andover dominated with Alex Dockree at the forefront of most of the attacks but it was a substitution by manager Danny Mulberry with 15 minutes remaining that proved the turning point.

Ropa Manamike added fresh legs to the strike force and his speed twice took him clear, firstly to fasten on to a Dockree through ball before rounding the keeper to score from the narrowest of angles, and then outpacing the defence from the halfway line to slide the ball past the stranded Richard Bates in the home goal.

A worthy victory for the Andover youngsters against a side that were mainly at least a year older.

Team: Dan Magee, Harry Mulberry, Dave Cockroft, Ross Willoughby, Calum Glenister, Tom Cozzi, Alex Dockree, Mitch Jemmet, Damon Trigwell, Russ Bates, Mitch Watts. Subs: Steve Ritchie, Ropa Manamike, Mark Minear.