REECE Rusher scored Andover Town's only goal on Saturday as his side battled out a 1-1 draw with mid-table Hamworthy.

The forward put his side ahead at the County Ground ten minutes before the break, beating goalkeeper Tommy Scott with a cool finish.

But Town were pegged back by their Dorset hosts, who equalised on the stroke of half-time through Steven Smith.

The game was one of the only Wessex Premier League fixtures to get the go-ahead on Saturday, with seven of the ten matches frozen off.

But Town's game was given the nod by officials, with Hamworthy's 3G pitch unaffected by the adverse weather.

Andover named a relatively unchanged team from the side that beat Bashley 2-0 in their previous fixture.

However manager Glenn Burnett made two changes, bringing in Harrison Fay and Zach Glasspool in place of Dylan Knight and Lerone Plummer.

Town started well and nearly took the lead through an early Rusher chance.

However his shot was pushed around the post by Scott.

Rusher did give Andover the lead on 36 minutes when he beat the offside trap.

The forward took the ball around the advancing goalkeeper and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

Rusher continued to threaten the Hamworthy, having a number of shots in the first half.

But it was the hosts who scored the next goal on the stroke of half-time.

Goalkeeper Lloyd Thomas was forced to rush off his line to close down the advancing Smith, who reached the ball first and calmly lobbed the ball into the corner of the net.

The teams went into the break level, but it was the hosts who carried the momentum through to the second-half.

Smith had a good chance to give Hamworthy the lead, but his head flew over the crossbar.

Connor Phillips and Eddie Hodge also missed good chances to put Hamworthy ahead.

However the host's best opportunity came in the 74th minute, when Edgar Zanin was brought down in the penalty area.

The referee awarded the spot kick, but Smith's weak effort was easily saved by Thomas.

Town nearly stole a win in the final minute when Rusher caught Scott off his line, only for his effort to edge narrowly wide as the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

Andover remain in 15th place, but are now nine points clear of bottom side Verwood.

Town are away again on Saturday, when they face a difficult fixture against 7th placed Brockenhurst.