Andover Town 0 Portchester 3.

Andover were left three points off the relegation zone after being beaten by an in form Portchester who celebrated a third successive victory in the Premier Division writes Patrick Barlow.

Manager Neil Benson made four changes to the side which started the 4-0 defeat at Bradford Town in the FA Vase, with goalkeeper Michael Weatherall taking over from Jake Wellesley-David, defenders Jordan O’Donnell and Matt Scott playing in place of Lewis Alderman and Ryan Inskip and Claudio Herbert replacing the suspended Ike Robertson.

Both teams started well, with a few significant chances including a missed volley by midfielder Herbert and Portchester striker Jamie Musselwhite having a shot blocked just outside the penalty area, but neither team were able to score. However, in the 38th minute, Andover were on the back foot after Craig Hardy’s cross found Musselwhite, who nodded home.

Town tried to hold out until half-time, but to no avail, as Hardy once again provided a cross, this time for Rob Evans to head home in the first minute of added time.

Andover played well at the start of the second half and Oliver Yates’ long shot went marginally wide, but after a substitution by Portchester, they scored again, when Evans played in Louis Castles who tapped in.

Benson made to changes soon after with O’Donnell and Herbert replaced by Toby McCauley and Danny Urry and the latter made an impact soon after, running half the length of the pitch and forcing a save from keeper Lloyd Thomas.

Cameron Hough replaced by Ryan Inskip but Andover played out the last few minutes giving Portchester a seemingly easy victory.