Andover Town3–1○Folland Sports

A decent attendance of 104 assembled on a chilly Portway Stadium where Andover Town entertained Folland Sports in a league match. After three consecutive defeats Town were looking to get back to winnings ways. They achieved the win with a decent defensive display but the score could have been more but for poor finishing.

Town had the better chances for the early exchanges but were just lacking for players in the penalty box. Bertie was caught offside a few times early on and this was to be the case several times during the match. The first clear chance fell to Town when some good interplay found Holmes and his pass found Hine but his shot was wide. However, the first corner went to Follands, the resulting cross found the head of Blake but his effort went over the bar. Follands winger Roach was proving to be lively on the right and he was heading on goal but his effort was cut out by full back Pattison. At the other end Holmes found space but his cross/shot landed into the arms of Follands keeper O’Donnell. The first ten minutes saw Town with the edge but the visitors had plenty of endeavour. Hine was causing problems for Follands on the wing and he found space down the wing, his cross was missed by keeper O’Donnell but was put out by a defender for a corner. Hine again shot wide after a cross from Bertie. Then on 18 minutes Hine again was free but O’Donnell saved well to keep the scores level. O’Donnell was again called into action when Bertie was free after a good through ball but the keeper saved well again. With just over quarter of an hour left Town were having the better of the game but they just couldn’t get the finishing touch, with Bertie again was guilty of being caught offside. On the half hour the visitors won a corner and Simmonds’ header was only just wide. Holmes had some good work down the right and he had a chance but shot went just over the bar. Finally, with just twelve minutes remaining of the half, O’Donnell received the ball from his defender but as Josh Bertie came sprinting towards him, he stumbled and the Town striker won the ball off of him and put the ball into the empty net to put Town one up. Holmes again found himself free heading goal bound but O’Donnell make a great save to deny him. The busy Hine found space on the wing and his cross found Bertie and his pass was just out of the reach of the oncoming Cullingford. Then again O’Donnell was called into action to make fine save from Tom Pattison. The half ended with Town on top but only one goal to show for their efforts.

Half-time Andover Town 1-0 Folland Sports

The second half started with Andover pressing once again. Hine showed some dribbling skills on the left beating several defenders but his final shot was well saved by O’Donnell. Town defence was dealing well with the Folland attacks. However, with just under an hour gone, the ever-lively Roach on the right wing for Follands, found space and he took on three Town defenders before placing the ball out of Taskers reach into the far corner to level the scores. This followed by some good play by full back Pattison who found the head of Bertie but his effort was wide of the goal. Town were now controlling play the ever-busy Holmes sent Tom Pattison away and his pass across goal was just out of reach of the on coming Hine. Follands substitute, the pacey Herbert, was trying to break through the home defence but Town were dealing well with him and his colleagues. Town continued to dominate with Holmes dictating play setting up Bertie, Pattison and Hine, but the finishing was letting them down. Hine took on three defenders but again his shot was over the bar. Then the best chance of the half so far fell to Pattison who was just a metre out but the shot went straight to O’Donnell. Pattison again involved, his pass to Holmes found Bertie his shot was again saved by O’Donnell. Into the last ten minutes Diaz-Benitez struck a powerful shot that O’Donnell saved but he palmed it into the path of Josh Bertie who put the ball into the goal to put Town into the lead. Town were still dominating and Holmes at the centre of things, he set up Hine but his volley was wide. Then as the game was drawing to a close Hine again struck a shot but it was cleared by a Folland defender but fell nicely for Brendan Holmes who made no mistake to put the game out of the visitors reach.

Overall Andover deserved their win they defended well and the score could have been more if they hadn’t found themselves offside so much and finished their chances better. Also, a mention for O’Donnell in the Folland goal who made some good saves, compared to his opposite number Dave Tasker who didn’t really have a direct shot to save apart from the goal from Roach.