Andover Town0–2○Newport (IoW)

Due to injury and other commitments Andover Town were without their leading goal scorers for the opportunity to gain league points this afternoon against Newport IOW. This modified line up included a new signing Mark Keogh in defence and gave Lewis Wakeford an opportunity to start the game as the number 11. Despite the result Andover were clearly the better team today demonstrating that the hard work to develop a strong squad rather than just a strong team is paying off. Although goals were not forthcoming the midfield play has improved and was the best so far this season.

Recent games have seen Andover trail from the outset and the hope this week was that these unfortunate starts would be a thing of the past from now on. However an early foul on Jarrod Wetherick gave Newport a free kick in a dangerous position. The kick was taken very well and the ball ended up in front of goal where Darren Powell would have found it difficult to miss. Unlike previous games Andover did not roll over and concede again straight away. In fact only a minute later Ben Emans was close to making a dream of a cross which floated just behind for a goal kick. Although the opportunity had not been taken this immediate response put an end to any thoughts that the game would slip away in the first twenty minutes as has been happening. As the game settled down Newport started to look for their second. A misjudged pass to Nickoy Pinnock left him trying to defend a free chance for Liam Triggs. David Tasker was probably really pleased to see the ball lobbed over his head and luckily over the crossbar. Only minutes later he was punching away Newports first corner of the match. Then shortly afterwards a Triggs shot was deflected out by Matt Williams, this time he had been on target. It was in the 19th minute when Wakeford started showing what he was capable of. Newport had been called offside and Owen Trapnell took the free kick and skilfully found Wakeford running down the near wing in front of the home supporters in the stand. He controlled the ball and turned to shoot. It was on target and just deflected out for a corner. Newport had no way of defending this kind manoeuvre and the experienced Trapnell had clearly noticed as it wasn’t the last time his crosses were aimed at a player in a similar position. Wakeford’s sprints down the wing started to be exploited by more of the team. His next chance on goal came from a Pinnock cross almost identical to Trapnell’s only minutes earlier. This time Ryan Hall was called upon to save. The much improved aspect of the Andover game today was their ability to judge each other’s speed and position. Trapnell precisely found the foot or head of his forwards on a number of occasions. Cole Oates narrowly missed scoring with his head from a such a pass and later on in the half was given another opportunity, this time being saved by the hard working Hall in goal. Emans and Wakeford played well together and a double act 30 minutes into the game saw them both take shots at goal within about 10 seconds of each other. In an attempt to stop the constant onslaught by Andover the away side gave away a free kick just outside the penalty area for a foul on Oates. Powell Ihunan-ya put the kick just over the bar but the pressure continued and it was difficult to understand how the equaliser had not happened. With only a few minutes of the half left Oates picked up the ball at the half way line and beat two defenders to put himself in the penalty box with only Hall to beat. Unfortunately the chance to put the ball away didn’t happen and he ended up running out of pitch.

Half time Andover 0 - 1 Newport

As the players came back for the second half it seemed inevitable that there would be an equaliser and potentially a first win for the home side. Brendan Holmes had the first chance but his shot crashed into the fence behind the goal thankfully missing the supporters positioned to see their team put some away. Newport were not causing any damage to the sharpened up Andover midfield. Pinnock was dominating down the centre and on more than a few occasions initiated spontaneous applause from the supporters delighted with the control and strength he was showing. Andover continued to attack with Oates and Holmes nearly drawing their team level in the 70th minute. If accuracy and interpretation were the most spectacular aspects of Andover’s play today then defending from set pieces was probably their least impressive. A Newport corner in the 74th minute was not well defended and Darren Powell was allowed to much space and made no mistake. Even at two down there was still an anticipation that the game wasn’t over yet. Although having let in goals early in matches recently Andover have also managed to score heavily in the later part of the game. Both substitutes Shaquille Gwengwe and Waledin Ahmed were involved in a lengthy move which included Sam Mills and ended with Holmes just missing the head of Gwengwe as the ball crossed temptingly in front of the goal face. Equally, Tasker played his part in keeping the points dream alive, as a trio of late corners for the away side kept him more busy than he would have liked. Right up until the last minute Andover were battling for the goals and score which would have better reflected the match play. But it wasn’t to be. Despite the results Andover have suffered at the start of this season their continued enthusiasm is a delight to watch on the pitch. Their position in the table is no reflection of the spirit and enormous improvement they have shown in such a short time playing as a squad together. If they continue on this journey, with the same determination as they have now, not only will they start to move up the rankings but their style of play will draw in more spectators.

Reporter’s ‘Man of the Match’ Lewis Wakeford