It's not just the goals that are getting fans back to the Portway this season.

For while this year's team may not be the all-conquering Andover of previous seasons, 10 of the 11 players who finished the Lions' three-goal thrashing of AFC Newbury on Saturday come from Andover and the Test Valley.

And Lions boss Howard Goddard says a team made up of mainly local lads is a sure-fire way to keep Andoverians coming to watch their premier club side.

He told the Advertiser: "There's plenty of talent out there in the towns and villages, and we'd be mad not to use it.

It's all very well building up a side of proven players from elsewhere, but fans don't feel as much a part of the club as they do when they know the players are from round here."

Andover thumped Newbury 3-0 thanks to goals from Justin Bennett, Vince Rusher and Sam Rea, all of whom have learned their football just a goal-kick or so away from the home of the Lions.

And of Saturday's squad, only recent signing Kevin Reacord and goalkeeper Kieron Drake come from outside the area - but they are quickly becoming part of the family.

It's been a tough but successful season for the Lions, and Goddard, himself an Andoverian through and through despite being much-travelled in his playing career, believes his team are really pulling together.

He told the Advertiser: "A lot of these lads weren't playing at this level a year ago so it's been hard for them to get to grips with the physical and technical sides to their games; that's why we need them down at training.

"And because they're all so close to us here, I never get anyone missing out on training.

"Every week, every single player turns up on a Thursday night, and they always come to the games too, whether they're playing or not.

"That's important, because they really feel like they're part of something - and so do the fans. I'm sure our supporters appreciate it."

l Andover will have to wait to play their North Hants Senior Cup match against Micheldever, after Tuesday night's game was postponed due to a frozen pitch.