Andover 1

Fareham 0

CFL sponsored Andover grounded out another victory in the JWL last Saturday in what was probably their most competitive game of the season so far thanks to an early strike with hitman Andy Forbes notching his 13th goal of the campaign.

The Lions were not at their best but they never looked like losing the points and, with their defence in sparkling form, gained their third clean sheet in four games. "It's encouraging and only Lymington have now conceded less goals than us in the league," said Andover boss Ken Cunningham Brown.

KCB however hopes to complete his signings this week by bringing in a new playmaker in time for Saturday's trip to Thatcham. "That should give the side the right balance and hopefully it will be our last signing," he said. He had an unchanged side starting against Fareham with two of the previous week's three absentees, Dave Asker and Shaun Dyke, on the bench - but was still without Vince Rusher with him still working away in Guernsey - and the town side missed him.

The only goal that separated the two sides at the finish came after only five minutes with Matt Bicknell's corner on the right being headed on by Adie Green and Alan Kennedy had a shot blocked before Forbes scrambled the ball home at the near post.

Both sides were always competitive but Andover showed little creativity. The long-legged David Green, their latest signing in midfield who was making his home debut, gave the Lions a more physical presence in midfield and the Lions were good at winning the ball but equally gave it away just as quickly to the opposition.

It resulted in Andover all too often forced to play a long-ball game and had little joy as an attacking force in the first half but both teams played well at the back, with Danny Barker again outstanding alongside skipper Stuart Barfoot in the heart of the defence.

Former Lion BJ Green also impressed in the Fareham defence and he made a number of timely interceptions, including one effort in the second half when an open goal was begging.

Fareham might have had more of the ball, especially in the first half, but Keiran Drake in the home goal had only two saves to make, one in each half. The first came just before the break when the diminutive Paul Reed left Matt Bicknell on his backside with a penetrating run into the box but Drake made an excellent parry and Reed then hooked the rebound over the Andover crossbar.

Forbes squandered the chance of a second goal before half time with a poor finish but Andover had plenty of other openings in the second half after making a double substitution shortly after the changeover with Asker and Dyke coming on for Adie Green and Danny Mattingly.

Andover dictated but never found their rhythm, although the pace of Forbes and Alan Kennedy up front brought further scoring chances, and many of their attacks floundered on Fareham's offside tactics, with Kennedy caught more times than he could care to remember.

Fareham lost their skipper BJ Green with just over an hour gone due to injury and Drake was forced to make his second save of the game shortly after when he plunged to his right to push away a snap drive from outside the box.

Andover however had far more scoring chances with Dyke making inroads on the left and Asker looked to have increased the Andover lead in a goalmouth scramble but his strong appeals that the ball had crossed the line were rejected by the referee.

Andover lost Dyke with 14 minutes left after he turned an ankle when attempting to cross the ball and were forced to reshuffle with John Wilson coming onto play at right back, Paul Freeman moving forward into midfield and Asker switching to play wide on the left.

Fareham never looked like pulling the goal back but Andover never appeared likely to add to their tally, despite all the huff and puff from both sides. Forbes and Kennedy both went close to doing so before the end but Kennedy's final effort summed up Andover's finishing when he did everything right when flicking the ball skilfully over a defender but then with only the 'keeper to beat volleyed high and wide. Andover (4-4-2): Drake; Freeman, Barker, Barfoot, Bicknell; Green (A), Green (D), Anderson, Mattingly; Kennedy, Forbes. Subs: Asker (for Adie Green 47 mins), Dyke (for Mattingly 47 mins), Wilson (for Dyke 76 mins).

The Lions, last season's beaten finalists, have been drawn at home against RS Basingstoke in the second round of the Hants Senior Cup on Saturday, 4 November. They also have home advantage against Portsmouth RN in the first leg of the JWL Cup on Tuesday, 21 November, and the return leg the following week.

Andover follow Saturday's trip to Thatcham in the JWL with another away game next Tuesday when they visit BAT in the third round of the Rusell-Cotes Cup.

Eastleigh have put in an approach for former Andover skipper Leroy Whale and Jeremy Stagg is also rumoured to have joined them after being released from his contract with the town club. Utility player Mark Rivers, the TVBC football development officer, has also joined Newbury in the hope of gaining a regular first team place.