On a fine afternoon a good sized crowd attended hoping to see the Port return to winning ways.Newport lined up without Martin McDonagh who was suspended for one match due to yellow cards, Ollie West taking his place in the centre of the defence. Josh Younie returned from injury after missing the game against Verwood.
Former Port player Jamie Bray returned to St. George’s in goal for Andover.
The Newport players themselves were straight out of the traps out on and Josh Younie tested Bray inside a couple of minutes with a shot that the veteran keeper just manager to get a hand to and turn over the bar. Shortly afterwards the game was halted following a solid 50/50 challenge and Andover defender Stubbs needed extensive treatment.
As the game restarted both teams settled and began to cancel each other out until just after a quarter of an hour when following a good run by Kelly , Liam Triggs had a shot that once again Bray got a hand to turn over.
On 24 minutes the lively Charlie Gunson got clear of the Newport defence and this time Gary Streeter was called upon to tip the ball over. It was beginning to look like a keepers exhibition match.
Both teams had good chances leading up to half time but neither were able to rind the net.
Right on half time the referee Mr McKee booked both Josh Younie and Andover’s Stubbs over a disagreement which seemed harsh to both players.
HALF TIME: Newport 0 Andover Town 0
Newport once again came out of the blocks fired up, Joe Butcher bringing out another good save from Bray and Connor Kelly firing over.
The deadlock was broken on the hour when a header at the back post was parried by Streeter and fell nicely for Charlie Gunson to steer into the net.
Newport came back for more ans a stinging shot from Kelly was well held by Bray as it was heading inside the post.
With time evaporating Newport committed more to attack bringing on substitutes Jimmi Burton, Keelan Sainsbury and Liam Bennett. As the 90 minutes were up Andover’s Shane Lock found himself with time and space in the box to slot the ball home and put the game out of reach of Newport.
In injury time Newport pulled a goal back when Jimmi Burton’s shot took a deflection and looped over Bray into the net but by then it was too late to get the Port back in the game.
FULL TIME : Newport 1 Andover Town 2
Attendance 125
Newport: Streeter, Newbold, Quigley, Pearce, West, Taylor, Powell, Triggs, Younie, Kelly, Butcher. Subs: Burton, K Sainsbury, Bennett.
Andover Town: Bray, Stubbs, Blakeman, Santa Fe Vigo, Gregory, Demsey, Plummer, Onoufrio, Glasspool, Gunson, Grange. Subs: Dockree, Lock, Sweeney, Nesbeth, Blackwell.
Referee: S McKee