Alton Town 1 Andover 0

IF possession decided football matches then Andover would have won the game at Anstey Road on Saturday.

With Damen, Rusher, Sullivan and Pratley all unavailable for various reasons, caretaker manager Ray Cozzi dispensed with the Lions normal three at the back format for a more conventional 4-4-2. But before they could adjust, Alton scored after just five minutes.

Lions goalkeeper Colin Hopkins could do little to prevent the goal but for the next 85 minutes, he didn't have another serious effort to deal with.

Throughout the game, Andover remained positive, but for all their pressure were unable to find the vital finishing touch. The rapidly-improving Paul Hughes had the lions best chance in the first half and then a Mario Nurse volley struck the crossbar.

Justin Bennett and Phil Andrews were denied by some solid defending.

It was more of the same in the second half with Hopkins continuing to remain a virtual spectator in goal. Bennett had two excellent efforts cleared off the line. The first looked as if it had come over but the well-placed linesman turned the appeal down.

Despite the lack of goals, this was an encouraging performance for the Lions. Phil Andrews ran his socks off and Allan Kennedy, playing his 400th game for the Lions, was another whose commitment could not be faulted.

Team: Hopkins, Kennedy, Rea (Reading), Richards, Barker, McNulty (George), Cole (Mariner), Hughes, Andrews, Bennett, Nurse.