ANDOVER New Street clinched the Wessex League Division One title with two games to spare as they defeated their closest challengers Newport team 4-1.

In front of more than 200 people, Street kicked off up the slope and won an early corner from which Ross Cook was penalised for challenging the goalkeeper in the air and as play moved quickly to the other end a George Colson shot was well held by Ben Rodwell.

McCormack in the visiting goal pushed away a shot from Cook before Street took the lead with fifteen minutes gone. McCormack punched a looping header from a left wing cross that he possibly should have caught and Leyton Tulk drilled the ball inside the post from some 15 yards. (1-0)

Harry Lawton and Cameron Thatcher were largely dominating the midfield and within five minutes the lead was doubled. Ross Cook fastened on to a through ball from Eddie Perrett in the inside left channel and, not for the first time this season, lifted the ball past the advancing keeper and high in to the roof of the net. (2-0)

Harry Lawton met a Mikey Davis cross first time with the shot being rather painfully blocked by a defender. Newport were playing some neat football in midfield but perhaps because of what was on the game, the ball spent a lot of time in the air with both sides quick to clear their lines.

Cook and Davis both had shots blocked, with the second leading to a corner and the third goal. Shane Lock swung the kick in from the left, McCormack’s attempted punch simply helped the ball on its way allowing Shaun Dallimore to cross from the other flank with Cook rising the highest to power a header in to the net. (3-0)

It almost became four as Davis collected a pass from Lawton and curled a shot against the crossbar. After a delay for some treatment to Cook. The dangerous Connor Kelly, so often the scourge of Street last season, made ground on the right and would have been disappointed to find an absence of yellow shirts in the area to meet his low cross, leaving Street with a deserved three goal lead at the break.

The first action of the second half saw both keepers in early action as McCormack tipped a Lock corner over the bar and Rodwell claimed a free kick and clutched a Ji Nash shot to his midriff.

Newport then enjoyed their best spell of the game with Kelly hitting the defensive wall with a free kick. A superb tackle by Liam Hibberd stopped substitute Joe Butcher as he closed in on goal and Davis headed the ball off the line in a goalmouth scramble before Street fought their way back in to the game.

Lock had a shot blocked and McCormack was at full stretch to keep out an Eddie Perrett drive before Newport reduced the deficit with ten minutes remaining.

The ever-dangerous Kelly found Butcher with a neat pass and the cool finish gave Rodwell no chance. (3-1)

Street replaced the now limping Cook with Scott Hassell and Davis with Max Allen as they looked towards time but they still went forward with a superb run by Lawton ending with a shot just the wrong side of the post.

Just after 90 minutes, a quick pass out of defence sent Cameron Thatcher clear and the young midfielder strode on to slot the ball past the advancing McCormack to make it four with the final whistle quickly following. (4-1)

Manager Jamie Coleman was delighted with the game and the outcome.

He said: “The lads and staff have been incredible all season. From the start we knew what we wanted to achieve this season and it wasn’t just promotion. I wanted to deliver the Club’s first League Title. Huge credit to the players and all my staff that we could deliver that with two games to spare. As a collective we have been top class. Fantastic. Many thanks to all.”