Andover Town1–3○Blackfield & Langley

Andover Town still search for their second win of the season as they lost at home to league leaders Blackfield and Langley. Town were once again defeated after a goal for Shane Lock was not enough to stop Blackfield from continuing their undefeated run in the league, as they were beaten 3-1. After Town’s midweek win against Bournemouth Poppies, Rudi Plummer moved off the wing into the striker’s role after an impressive display in the Hampshire Senior Cup, with Adam Grange regaining his place on the wing. Glenn Burnett also started new signing Javier Santafe, who took up his role in holding midfield. Blackfield and Langley looked to keep their impressive record of having won all of their league games so far this season, and prolific scorer Jamie White kept his place in the team, as Liam Robinson started in midfield for the watersiders. Ex-Whitchurch goal keeper Brad Snelling also started, as Sam Poole captained the side. Andover and Blackfield fought closely for possession at the start of the game, but it was Town who got the first breakthrough. A clever pass from a free kick by Liam Gilbert fell to Shane Lock, who grabbed the ball at the 6-yard box, and his low shot was scrambled past Snelling at the near post to put Andover in the lead. It didn’t take long for Blackfield to equalize, as only 10 minutes later a long ball gave Liam Robinson a great scoring opportunity. After a brilliant reflex save by Jamie Bray, the ball fell to Jamie White, who was able to tap the ball in from short range to even the score. Despite Andover making a few brilliant chances it was Blackfield who took the lead shortly before the break. A cross along the floor by Robinson was flicked on by John Cole to White, who put the ball in from the middle of the penalty area, taking his total this season to 20 goals in 7 games. Andover went further behind within a minute of the start of the second half. After Carl Preston’s run along the left wing, his great ball fell to Liam Robinson on the goal line, who was able to poke the ball past Bray to increase Blackfield’s lead, and putting Town in a difficult position to recover from. Andover did well to try and fight back, and came close midway through the half when Lock was on the end of a great passage of play by Town. However, he couldn’t beat Snelling, who was able to stop his shot from close range and deny Lock his second goal of the game. Town came close to a brace in the dying minutes of the game after a flurry of good chances, the closest of which was a curling free kick by new signing Santafe, which was able to trouble the Blackfield defence, but was stopped by the woodwork, and left Andover still with only 4 points from 7 games.