ANDOVER Town recorded a comfortable 2-0 in the New Forest over Brockenhurst, thanks to a goal in the first half from Connor Cocklin and a penalty won and scored by Mike Gosney in the second half.

This was Town's fifth consecutive away fixture and it will be good to see them back home again at the Portway tomorrow evening against Bemerton Heath Harlequins.

Andover made only one change from the team which started last Saturday with captain Liam Hubberd making a welcome return from injury and Alex Dockree dropping down to the bench.

Andover started smoothly playing controlled possession football and came close to scoring in the eighth minute when Joe Chamberlain hit a fierce drive from 30 yards out which fizzed just over the crossbar.

After several corners in quick succession Connor Cocklin opened the scoring in the 16th minute when he forced the ball home from a couple of yards out following yet another Mike Gosney corner.

The first half proceeded with little or no threat from Brockenhurst and Andover went in at half time with a comfortable but narrow lead and the old cliché of one goal never being enough over felt true enough.

Cocklin was booked for dissent on 40 minutes and unfortunately, with the exception of a handball from Andover and a foul from Brockenhurst, all the other several bookings on both sides came from dissent.

An unsatisfactory state affairs and it’s easy to criticise an over zealous referee when what is being said to him on the pitch cannot be overheard.

The second half continued with Andover playing in the same controlled fashion and Luke Cairney remained a virtual spectator.

On 61 minutes and after a terrific run down the left wing Mike Gosney cut inside into the penalty area, was unceremoniously upended and the resultant penalty award was a very easy decision for the referee to take.

Gosney stepped up to the spot and coolly stroked the penalty into the bottom left corner sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

At 2-0 up Andover continued their dominance and it was not until the half hour of the half that Cairney was called into action when a decent break from Brockenhurst set up a chance which narrowly went past the right hand upright. Mindful perhaps of yet another midweek fixture, towards the end of the second half George Hallahan, Manny Soetan and Zach Glasspool were all replaced within a few minutes by Ben Cook, Reece Rusher and McAulie Stubbs respectively.

All in all a convincing win by Andover, maintaining their 10 point cushion at the top of the table and interestingly enough recorded their first clean sheet for 13 matches.