Brockenhurst 0 Andover Town 0 AET

Brock win 15-14 on penalties.

ANDOVER Town may only be a few months old, but it is unlikely they will play in a more remarkable game than last night's Hampshire FA Senior Cup tie at Brockenhurst, writes Kerry Miller. 

A match which lasted the thick end of three hours produced no goals in 120 minutes.

But then the sides netted 29 consecutive penalties before Claudio Herbert’s second effort was saved by Badgers ’keeper Scott O’Rourke at almost 10.45pm!

The 15-14 shootout defeat was staggeringly cruel on the Division One leaders who had matched the reigning Division One champions in all areas and so nearly took their place in the third round but for the marathon penalty shoot-out.

Lewis Benson had the first chance after a mazy run but his shot lacked power and then, from a Lloyd Foot free-kick, Alex Dockree’s header bounced on top of the bar.

At the other end Brock’s Dave Marden was just wide with a header and, as the sides traded chances, ex-Saint Foot’s breathtaking 50-yard pass picked out Ollie Yates whose cross-shot hit the post.

But after temperatures rose briefly with cautions for Brock’s leading scorer Scott Joyce and Foot it was left to Ope Aromona to clear a Marden header off the line to keep the score blank at the break.

Town dominated the second half and, after Foot’s free-kick was parried away by O’Rourke, substitute Leighton Speechley-Price had a shot saved within ten seconds of going on.

Andover’s Michael Dixon was a real handful all night without threatening the goal too often and neither the Brock defence nor referee Sear really knew how to handle him.

As the tie went into extra-time Dixon brought a fabulous save out of the impressive O’Rourke and substitute Tom Riddell almost won the game for Town.

But, despite a pulsating two hours, the game went to a shoot-out and the 30th kick was missed.

So it was Brockenhurst who moved into the third round on penalties after one of the most astonishing matches for many moons.

*Lymington Town edged last night's other HSC tie 1-0 at Christchurch - James Davis the scorer.