○Colden Common3–2Andover Town

Apologies as we don't have a 'Town' match report ........

Obviously a good performance against the league champions but Town were sunk by a late penalty.

One highlight was the 100th appearance for club by Malachi Johnson !!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Report taken from 'Hogpost'

Colden Common had already won the league, so this was their last HPFL league game, and my first visit to see them at their new home. The visitors, who came down from the Wessex last season, still had the chance of a top four place if they won their remaining games - they did apply for promotion. This was a surprisingly competitive game. The first half was entertaining, both teams playing some good stuff. After the break we saw a less attractive side of the game for a while, but the football returned for a good last 20 mins which saw Common play well to win the match. It was a lively start: after 30 seconds Johnson curled a shot just wide for the visitors. The hosts replied with a shot by Choate, saved by Redshaw, and Primus burst through from right-back but fired over. On 8 mins, however, Common took the lead, a cross from the right found Choate who passed it left to Lethbridge who had an easy chance to score. Town replied with a cross from the left well hit by Bertie, forcing home keeper Egeland Jensen into a good save. At the other end Redshaw had to make a good save from Stone. A ball over the top then found Choate free, he tried to lob Redshaw but the ball went just wide. The visitors battled well and equalised on 25 mins; several shots were blocked by Common defenders but the ball reached Morgans who produced an excellent finish He had another chance as he was well found by Reid on the right but this time he was off target. A good run by Samuda then forced a save from Egeland-Jensen. The home side took the lead again on 34 mins with a great goal as several passes found Choate free on the left and he shot across Redshaw into the top corner. But Andover came back and Morgans had a shot deflected wide before he tied it up again on 40 mins as he scuffed a cross from the left into the corner just beyond Egeland-Jensen's reach. HT 2-2.

The second half started promisingly with a Stone shot just wide, but after that it went rapidly downhill, with assorted fouls, appeals and general moaning, a lot of that from the benches too. There was a theatrical dive and from a cross Egeland-Jensen was flattened by an Andover forward. The ref had been pretty lenient up until then but decided enough was enough and dished out several yellow cards. Eventually this did the trick, and with the aid of a few subs, the home side started to look dangerous coming forward again. Harvey-Grey and J.Driver had shots just wide, Stone came close too. From a good cross Sunley had a header tipped over by Redshaw, who then kicked away a cross by Harvey Grey in unorthodox fashion. Harvey-Gray came close twice more before we had the decisive moment, on 84 mins, as Sunley was pushed in the area going for a header, and Lethbridge converted the penalty. Common continued the pressure: a Sunley cross kissed the top of the bar, Redshaw rushed out to clear just before Walters, and Harvey-Grey again came close. A long shot over the bar was all the visitors had to offer in injury time and in the end Common were good value for their victory, which meant an unbeaten record at home this season [Paul H].