Andover Town2–1○Totton & Eling

Andover Town maintained their unbeaten home record this season with a victory against a Totton & Eling side who will leave wondering how they didn’t take something from the game. After the impressive midweek display against Bournemouth in the Wessex League cup, Andover came into Saturday’s game looking to build on that performance and banish the heavy loss in their last league outing against Alton. In front of another strong crowd, Andover kept the same line up with Michael Donovan continuing to be deployed at centre back and Harry Barkaway moving further forward in centre midfield. Zac Hine remained suspended whilst the home supporters were looking for Ben Emans to build on his man of the match display from Tuesday.

In the opening exchanges, neither side produced anything of note. The odd strong tackle aside, both sides appeared to cancel one another out with players on either side struggling to get a foothold in the game. Emans provided the one moment of quality beating Totton’s Tyler Beech and whipping in a cross that just evaded Josh Hewson at the back post. This seemed to kick start the game, the visitors front two of Ethan Taylor and Dan Clarke posing problems with their movement and pace. It was Taylor who almost put the away side in front, crashing an effort against the bar before somehow heading wide from close range when the ball was played back in. indeed, Angel Call Handling sponsored Andover were thankful for Dease Kerrison keeping the scores level, twice pulling off saves that appeared to be inevitable goals. 10 minutes before half time and Hewson had Andover’s best effort. Cutting in from the left, Hewson let fly from 30 yards only to see the ball crash against the crossbar. At the back, Michael Donovan was struggling with a muscle injury and Totton capitalised. Breaking from midfield with Donovan pulling up, Totton forced two excellent saves from Kerrison but from the resulting corner their skipper, Ryan Lomax, rose to head in from close range. It was nothing more than they deserved on the stroke of half time.

Half time - Andover Town 0-1 Totton & Eling

Harsh words at half time had the desired effect on the home side. Immediately from kick off, Andover were sharper. Skipper Brendan Holmes took a grip of the game in centre midfield and Barkaway began to see more of the ball, breaking from midfield. Substitute Adam Pattison, returning from injury, and Ryan Helmkay starting providing width out wide and it didn’t take too long before Andover equalised. Holmes’ shot from distance was parried by Totton’s goalkeeper and Josh Hewson pounced to pull the home side level. With the crowd buoyant, Town dominated and soon made it 2-1, Josh Bertie racing clear before stroking the ball under the advancing Eyres and in to the corner of the net. Both sides created some decent openings without coming close to add to the score line until Totton hit the bar from the edge of the box. Scott Walker, growing into the game after a slow start, became dominant in the air and Kerrison ensured he swept behind his back four whenever necessary to help close the game out. In truth, supporters left with mixed emotions. On one hand, the performance was frustrating after impressing in midweek but on the other, it was a game that they won ugly. However, they head in to next week’s game against New Milton knowing that they will need to improve against a side much changed from last season.