Stockbridge 3 Andover Lions 1 aet Stockbridge came out on top in Saturday’s Hampshire Premier League Cup tie against Andover Lions in a derby match that pitched Robin’s manager Dean Hutchins against his father in law, Lions’ boss Ray Cozze.

The match was spiced up a little more as Hutchins, in his first season at Stockbridge, included five ex Lions’ players in his squad.

Cozze’s game plan was thrown into chaos in the 24 hours before kick-off with five players withdrawing, leaving Andover with a bare 11 and just one recognised defender.

Again Cozze was forced to make six changes from the previous week’s line up with Lee Cogan, Nick Dadds and Jordan Young all coming in for their first games of the season and Robbie Owen was moving into the back four.

Despite the unsettling preparation Lions looked best early on and they were unlucky when Young headed against the bar from a Cogan cross in the tenth minute. Five minutes later a Jazz Beavis free-kick crashed against the bar from 30 yards but Lions looked most likely to break the deadlock and Tom Gilbert and John Robb both went close before Young lobbed Dan Kempson from just outside the box only to see the ball go inches over the bar.

Lion’s keeper Dan Magee was called into action to make a smart save from Ryan Steele but it came as no great surprise when debutant Dadds played in Gilbert who gave the visitors a deserved half-time lead.

It was a different Stockbridge side that came out for the second period after a fierce half-time dressing down from Hutchins and they soon gained the upper hand dominating the early possession. Ten minutes in Hutchins made a key substitution, introducing Lee Hamilton and the lively striker equalised within 60 seconds.

With Cozze unable to introduce fresh legs Owen and Josh Hind remained resolute at the back and at 90 minutes the teams could not be separated.

Weary Lions kept the Robins out until the dangerous Beavis seized on a loose ball to score. Cogan saw red in the face of some over zealous celebrations and Lions’ task became even greater.

To their credit they kept on until the end, Dadds even having an effort saved that could have brought an unlikely equaliser.

With the last few seconds ticking away Magee tried to dribble his way forward from his box and was tackled for Hamilton to score his second and to put his team in the next round.

After the match Ray Cozze was full of praise for the way in which his team performed.

“The boys who turned up today did themselves and the club proud showing tremendous commitment and effort.

‘If we could have brought a couple of fresh players on in the latter parts of the game then I’m certain that we could have got something out of the match.

I couldn’t fault any of them; Josh Hinds played in the back four for the first time today and was outstanding. I really felt for the 11 that made it here today, they deserved something and could not have given any more.”

Tomorrow Lions face another stern test as they visit unbeaten leaders Infinity, kick off 3pm at Knowle, nr Fareham while Stockbridge travel to Hedge End Rangers.