Andover Town4–2○Hedge End Rangers

Warm spring sunshine greeted visitors Hedge Edge Rangers who started the game in the top four of the league. Town beat their opponents on their patch back in September and were hoping to extend their winning run at the Portway today.

Regular goal scorer Ryan Morgans was missing today which represented a good opportunity for others to score. In the 12th minute Malachi Johnson cleverly found Jacob Burrows in the penalty area and he turned quickly to narrowly fire over the bar. Andover were playing confidently and attacking with real intent which resulted in an excellent goal in the 24th minute from Jacob Burrows. He swung over a superbly flighted free kick from 30 yards out on the right touchline which deceived the Hedge Edge keeper and nestled into the back of the net to make the score 1-0. And immediately afterwards on 25 minutes Malachi Johnson doubled the scoring when the keeper fumbled in the area to make the score 2-0. It looked certain that Luke Holden would score in the 30th minute when through on goal on the edge of the area he was pulled down from behind and it looked pretty definite that as the last man the defender should have been red carded but inexplicably the referee only gave yellow, such an injustice. And to rub salt into the wound in the 42nd minute Hedge End scored and again it seemed that keeper Redshaw had the ball kicked out of his hands but the referee allowed the goal to stand to make the score 2-1, Jake Gould was the scorer. Half time score was 2-1 to Andover which didn’t accurately reflect their first half dominance.

Town started the second half on the front foot and restored their two goal lead in the 51st minute when Luke Holden found Dean Smith free in the penalty area who slid the ball coolly past the keeper to make the score 3-1. Sadly a calamitous back pass from the usually ever reliable Josh Holebrook presented an unmissable opportunity to the visitors in the 55th minute and striker Owen Hurst easily rounded Redshaw to make the score 3-2, a scoreline which Town did not deserve. Keen to restore their two goal advantage Town pressed on but were almost undone in the 65th minute when keeper Redshaw tipped a certain goal around the post following a 25 yard free kick. But straight after Andover scored again in the 66th minute when a great shot by Callum Reid was parried by the keeper and it fell kindly to Luke Holden who put the ball into the net to make the score 4-2. It was important then for Town to keep their shape and control the game which they did admirably for the last quarter to make the final score 4-2.

So another good win for Andover but not without one or two anxious moments and a win which pushes them closer to a promotion place. There is currently no match scheduled next Saturday and the next game is on Saturday Match 22nd away at Harvest in Portsmouth, kick-off 2.00pm.