US Portsmouth managed to secure a 3-1 victory over Andover New Street in the second league meeting of the season, writes John Gorman.

Street had been hoping to complete a double over Portsmouth, but it was not to be on their first visit since 2017.

The visitors, without Harry Lawton, and with Liam Hibberd and Shaun Dallimore on the bench, started the brighter and Ross Cook was too high after Malachi Dotse’s run and cross provided the shooting chance and they continued to enjoy most of the possession.

Street’s pressure told after 15 minutes when Ross Cook picked the ball up some 35 yards from goal, spotted the keeper way off his line and coolly lobbed the ball into the unguarded net (0-1).

But Street were made to pay when, with 10 minutes of the half remaining, the scores were level.

The defence failed to get the ball away and were caught in possession. Dom Cupar beat the stranded Rodwell (1-1).

Cook saw a shot well saved by keeper O’Connell on the restart but the visitors were perhaps fortunate when strong appeals for a home penalty were ignored by the referee.

Brad Waters replaced Dotse and Lock was too high before the home side went in front for the first time.

Rodwell saved well at the expense of a corner but Phil Archbold rose highest for the kick and thumped a header into the net (2-1).

Ten minutes from time Luke Richards added a third for the home side (3-1) and only a good save by Rodwell prevented a fourth. 

This was probably New Street’s worse performance of the season. They were well on top until they gave away a soft goal and things went downhill from there.

They lost their way in the second half, too many misplaced passes, and the end result was fair.

Weather permitting they have a chance to get it out of their system when they travel to Whitchurch on Wednesday, before AFC Portchester are the visitors to the DH Property Services Stadium on Saturday.