Andover Town5–3○Blackfield & Langley

The largest crowd of the season was at the Portway to witness this top of the table clash between the Wessex league pacesetters. After this result only goal difference now separates Andover Town from the leagues top position but they have a vital two games in hand over Blackfield & Langley. Andover made two changes to the team that started in mid week. Aaron Nesbeth came in for Liam Hibberd who was recovering from a bout of food poisoning and Alex Dockree replaced the unavailable Michael Hubbard.

Blackfield set the early pace and scored the opening goal inside the opening three minutes as Connor Doe punished some hesitation in the Andover defence. Against their highly rated opponents Andover really needed a strong response and Cocklin provided it eight minutes later. Joe Chamberlain, wide on the left, spotted Connor Cocklin free on the far side of the area and his header looped over goalkeeper Brad Snelling. Throughout the game the visitors were always willing to attack and Lloyd Thomas did well to stop ex Saint Jamie White’s on target effort that quickly followed the goal. At the midway point of the first half Blackfield were marginally the better side but they failed to dominate an Andover back line well marshalled by Luke Dempsey. The pace of the game moved up a notch during the final ten minutes of an absorbing first half during which three goals were scored in seven minutes. The first came as Mike Gosney set up George Hallahan who fired in low past Snelling for Andover’s second. Blackfield responded with a goal of their own and than two minutes later Andover were ahead again as George Hallahan scored again, his fourth in three games. This goal Andover’s third owed much to the persistence of Zach Glasspool who eventually supplied the assist. There was still time before the break for Andover to appeal for a penalty when Hallohan appeared to be fouled and at the other end Thomas must have been relieved when Doe’s effort struck the post.

Half time - Andover Town 3-2 Blackfield & Langley

The early minutes of the second half were mostly played in Andover’s half. White hit the bar from close range and a fine reaction save by Lloyd Thomas denied Liam Robinson. As the hour mark approached Blackfield were reduced to ten men. Dockree got the better of a challenge by Joe Byrne who responded by hauling him down just outside the area. Dockree was clear on goal and the referee had little option but to show Byrne a straight red. The match was far from over but finally two Andover goals in two minutes sealed the points for the home side. Reece Rusher’s delicate chip was enough to send Zach Glasspool clear and he duly celebrated his fiftieth appearance firing in past the stranded Snelling. Within a minute a long clearance found Jason Silver with time and space and he duly ran on to complete a memorable afternoon for the Andover Supporters. Four minutes into added time former Andover Town player Rudy Plummer scrambled the ball into the net to add a degree of respectability to the final score line. Andover are without a fixture next weekend but face an home encounter with another highly rated side Hamble Club the following Tuesday.