New Milton Town 1

Andover Town 2.

Andover Town posted their intention of providing some serious entertainment this season when they beat New Milton Town in their first ever competitive action on Saturday.

It was a stunning display from the young side, captained and pushed on by assistant-manager Lewis Benson, whose display earned praise from all quarters at Fawcett Fields.

However, father Neil, boss of the Town side, picked Jordan O’Donnell as his player of the match.

“There were lots of excellent individual performances, especially in the middle of the park and they covered a lot of ground but for me Jordan just edged it.”He gave a very disciplined performance.”

Benson decided to go with powerful Michael Dixon on the bench with Cameron Hough injured and Ope Aromona not ready for senior action for a couple of weeks.

Town were not short of height at the back although until Dixon was introduced up front Tom Richards and Tom Riddell made up for their lack of inches with a non stop display more than once just failing to get on the end of Claudio Herbert crosses.

Andover settled early and centre half Lloyd Foot was soon finding Herbert out on the right wing but it was the reverse which brought Town the early breakthrough.

Herbert’s corner was half cleared to Foot whose stunning one touch volley flew in to the top corner on seven minutes.

New Milton came back within a minute and Sam Carter was just wide with an effort but it was the last time the home side sniffed the Town goal as Benson took charge in the middle and his pace and powerful runs lit up a ground already bathed in sunshine.

Riddell’s run and cross was deflected off a defender and saved byShane Murphy then Richards pace took him clear but his lob went just over.

Tyler Betteride then intercepted a wayward pass and shot past Murphy but somehow home skipper Jemal Rose got back to clear.

Riddell twice, Benson and Betteridge all went close before half-time then just before the break Sam Groves shot over.

New Milton made a double substitution at half-time and moments later Benson surprised a few of the travelling supporters by withdrawing Herbert and sending on Dixon and in the very first attack the former professional held off a defender and found Richards who hit the bar.

As Dixon and Rose went for the loose ball Rose went down and Dixon was cautioned, thus becoming the first Town player to be booked but he was a constant threat to the home defence and on the hour Lewis Benson linked with brother Bradley, who also had a fine game at the back and when his skill brought a corner, it was not cleared and Riddell scuffed his shot from close in.

Dixon was wide soon after but having dominated for more than an hour the defence was caught square and substitute Rob Teppett beat Jake Wellesley-Davies to the ball which rolled in to the corner for what was their first shot on target.

Town roared back and withoin two minutes were in front again as another excellent move ended with Riddell’s cross being headed past his own keeper by Matt Dear.

Town should have wrapped up the win and a place in the next round of the Wessex League Cup when Lewis Benson’s corner was headed wide by Foot which galvanised New Milton and the sides exchanged squandered chances late on until, after eight minutes of injury time referee Mannering signalled the historic first ever win for the fledgling club.

Naturally Neil Benson was delighted with the outcome.

“On a personal level I was very pleased to get the win in what was the first competitive game for the new club.

“A win is always good but we must be better in the final third as we created plenty of chances and should have won more comfortably.

Commenting on Michael Dixon being on the bench Benson added: “Michael was away all week but we have plenty of competition.

“It was a high quality strike from Lloyd Foot but we gave away a soft goal and won’t be able to get away with that too often.”

Frustratingly for all concerned with the side hitting the ground running they now have to rein themselves in as there is now now game until tomorrow week when they take on Hythe and Dibden at the Hants FA HQ ground at Winklebury in their first Wessex Division One encounter.

Team: Jake Wellesley-Davies, Danny Field, Bradley Benson, Jordan O’Donnell, Lloyd Foot, Ryan Inskip, Claudio Herbert, Lewis Benson, Tom Riddell, Tyler Betteridge, Tom Richards. Subs used: Michael Dixon, Josh Rees-Long.