Division One - Millbrook 1 Andover New Street 7 (05/02/22)
On an afternoon beset by a strong, and cold, swirling wind New Street rediscovered their shooting boots and came back from conceding the opening goal to remind all that they are still very much part of the Division One promotion race writes John Gorman.
Street started brightly with two early corners and home keeper Ed Kitcher tipped a Shane Lock over the bar and parried a fierce Harry Lawton drive, though he may not have known too much about the latter as it flew through a crowded area. Morgan Callaway glanced a header just wide for the home side before Kitcher rescued his side again, denying Reece Rusher at point blank range after Chris Flood made the opening.
The visitors were looking the more dangerous but needed to make their pressure count and when the first goal of the game came midway through the half it went to the home side. Street lost the ball in midfield, the through ball down the middle split the defence and a Mark BARKER “special” from the edge of the “D” put the home side in front.
Kitcher produced a superb save to keep out a Flood header and Street did not make the most of a series of crosses and corners until the 35th minute when a corner was only cleared to the edge of the area and Reece RUSHER’s low drive found the corner of the net. One goal quickly became two as a cross from the left found the far side of the home defence totally absent and RUSHER had time and space to put the visitors in front Wilson held a cross under pressure and Flood was narrowly wide before the half time whistle and some very welcome tea. HT 1-2
The wind, though swirling, was largely blowing down the pitch and was now in New Street’s favour and they forced three corners in as many minutes without any end result before there was a lengthy delay as the referee conducted a conversation with the home bench. A long run and cross by Joe Rogers caused a scramble in the Millbrook area and another cross from the same player, after good work by Mikey Davis, evaded all in the six yard box.
But after eighteen minutes the pressure told as RUSHER picked the ball up on the right touchline and cut inside before firing low past Kircher, who perhaps could have expected more from his defenders. Four minutes later Rusher again came in from the right, the original cross or shot was blocked only for the winger to coolly find Chris FLOOD on the edge of the six yard box and he made it four with his first goal for the Club.
Street sent Luke Hooper and Josh Jeffrey, both attacking players, into the fray and Rusher was inches away after a good advantage by the referee before Street made it five just after the half hour, Rogers was again involved in midfield and the through ball gave RUSHER the chance to coolly round the stranded goalkeeper. Millbrook occasionally did not help themselves by trying to play the ball out of the area and the irrepressible RUSHER seized on to a misplaced pass for his fifth and his side’s sixth goal. That was after forty minutes but there was still time for number seven as Joe ROGERS rounded the overworked Kitcher and rolled the ball in to the empty net. With the temperature dropping, the final whistle came as a relief to all, albeit for differing reasons, and signified a comfortable win for the visitors. FT 1-7
It was an enjoyable game played in good spirit – not a single caution – and whilst Rusher will take the plaudits it was a good all-round performance by the side. Wilson was a safe pair of hands in goal, the back four were solid throughout and Lock and Harry Lawton kept things moving forward. Mill brook were excellent hosts on the day and have settled well in the Wessex League but it was Street and Rusher’s day.
