ANDOVER Town comfortably won this North Hants Senior cup second round tie against Winchester Castle, a team three divisions below them in the football pyramid 8-0.

Although outclassed for long periods Castle played with determination and in a sporting manner throughout.

Their goalkeeper Ryan Funnel managed to make several good saves and thanks to his efforts the final score line remained in single figures.

Jason Silver set the scene for Andover in the ninth minute with a 25-yard volley that finally nestled in the top corner of the net.

Shortly after Funnel saved well at his near post to deny George Hallahan who quickly made amends firing in from just inside the area.

Little was being seen of the visitors as an attacking force and it was no surprise when the third goal arrived just past the half hour mark.

From an Andover viewpoint this third goal could be seen as the most satisfying. It involved two of the clubs youth players Brendon Holmes,who set it up and Ryan Penney who confidently scored.

Kieran McHardy replaced Luke Cairney at the start of the second half but any suspicion that the change of goalkeeper would allow the visitors back into the game was quickly dispelled as Andover proceeded to score four goals inside 13 minutes.

The first of these came after a long range effort by Alex Dockree bounced off one post onto the other before Michael Hubbard tapped in the rebound.

A firmly struck effort by McAulie Stubbs became the fifth of the evening and three minutes later Dockree put away the sixth.

By now the Winchester side’s defence was in some disarray leaving Aaron Nesbeth free at the far post to slot in the seventh goal of the evening.

A long term injury has kept Matt Scott out of the game for almost two years, but with 15 minutes left he made a welcome reappearance from the bench.

George Farrelly had also arrived earlier from the subs bench and he completed the scoring with a fine individual effort.

Towards the end Winchester Castle had the chance of a consolation but Matt Kirby’s long range effort was a yard wide of the goal.

Andover will entertain Whitchurch in the next round on Tuesday January 23.

This Saturday, Andover are at home to Shaftesbury in the Wessex League Premier Division.