Andover New Street boss Brian Drury returned to his old stamping ground at Whitchurch United on Tuesday last week and went away with a place in the North Hants Senior Cup final, through a last-minute George Dallarda goal.
The 1-2 loss dealt a blow to Whitchurch, who were hoping to bag a place in the cup
Whitchurch were lacking against the visitors, who looked the hungrier and dominated large sections of the game, which got off to a stunning start with two goals inside five minutes.
With the first attack, Whitchurch's Luke Walker pressured the Street defence and when a defensive header failed to reach keeper Dave Tasker he walked round him and tucked away the opener with little difficulty. The lead lasted less than five minutes as Street opened up the home back line and Isaac Sedu finished a nice move from 12 yards to put his side back on level terms.
Andover’s Stuart Anderson went close, but was denied on the line by Whitchurch’s Ali Brown. Then Dallarda was fouled right on the edge of the box, but the resulting free kick was a foot too high.
Dallarda and Sedu then were causing problems and they combined again, but Dallarda's volley was saved superbly by Whitchurch keeper Tom Hindmarsh before the break.
New Street lost Matt Styles to injury and Drury threw on Antony Waters to play alongside Dallarda. The move paid dividends nine minutes after the break when a corner was not cleared and Waters' volley was flicked on by Bobby Swayne and Dallarda netted. Street were always the more likely to score and, despite a couple of scares, they took the win and the place in the final against either Tadley Calleva or Alresford Town, who play on Tuesday.
