Andover Town5–4Stockbridge

The Old Test Derby

All has been quiet in the Jones household since the last home game 20 th September for which I knew would happen, as a visit to my Mum in Law at Woodhall Spa a stunning village in the middle of nowhere (don’t go near the hardware shops that will see the end of your pocket money), and then a short break to Dawlish Warren. With a bit of luck and a bit of help from Storm Amy I only missed the Liss home game.

Now the lack of football will make you daft things and so 2 visits to the noisy

neighbours on consecutive Tuesdays - the first a cup game against Whitchurch in which during the 85th minute a serious injury to a Whitchurch player saw the game abandoned, get well soon fella. The second an encounter against Millbrook with Zak Hine calling (much to our amusement) for the players to calm down after a small amount of handbags in the second half.

A quick look at Stockbridge’s website unable to find any match reports so a friendly email to the contact Dave and Jill sees me writing for both teams today and a much relieved Jill. So after a late night in Reading and a cross country shenanigans to get back home due to our fantastic ‘Lets shut every main road’ the day started a bit behind schedule. A traumatic search for a shopping trolley pound found us acquiring 4 sausage rolls with the shopping ship shape and stowed, Shadow (aka Freeloader) our cat finally deciding that 18 hours sleep was just enough and you better give me treats right now and I’ll let you give 3 strokes, lunch was consumed and time to make my way to Fortress Portway. With the Massed ranks looking a bit threadbare today it was left to me and Bob to cheer the boys on. Last season saw some excellent and well drilled Stockbridge side beat us home and away , this season sees Stockbridge sitting above us with 3 more points - like us a disappointing season so far. Still a break from the league sees us drawn together in the George Mason Memorial Shield. With refreshments gathered and a walk round to the bank end, kick off ensued.

The play looked even for the first 20 minutes with no side really having a clear sniff of goal although Andover best play coming down the left side with the combination of Jayden and Deshawn looking impressive and so it was on about 25 minutes that combination came to fruition although Deshawn actually losing the ball, Stockbridge’s number 6 (Sam Charles?) failed to clear allowing Deshawn to regain the ball threading a perfect ball through to the

ever workman like Luke Holden to slot home a wonderfully worked goal and Town were 1-nil up. For those whom follow us this season particularly it’s a strange sensation, bets were immediately placed as to how long it would last.

A magical ball over the top of the Stockbridge defence saw the ever hard working Luke Holden clean through touch, shoot yes and 2-nil no, no, no, not first time the keeper saves and the chance is gone. A ball that saw the p arting of the Andover defence and a quick run by a Stockbridge forward saw the laws levelled. Not an unusual sensation this season for us Town fans, now the talk was how many would we lose by ? But again Luke Holden was having none of it a cross of beauty from our left found Luke Holden by the penalty spot unmarked the keeper to beat and with aplomb dispatched to find Town once again in the lead. The game settled down into a fierce midfield battle with Owen and Dan doing sterling work in midfield and Sam Scaniellie on mopping up duties with about 5 minutes to go to half time and the Blue Army screaming to get the ball out of our half, Stockbridge gained a throw in inline with our six yard box, a long throw was pounced on a swift turn bamboozled 4 Town players and Big Chris to slot in for Stockbridge’s second. 2-2 ok we’ll take that to half time then reorganise. Stockbridge I said we’ll take 2-2 and reorganise, no ain’t going happen. Town pass it forward and keep it away from our goal nope dilly dally and you find the opposition running on goal Big Chris sees the danger and with grace of a charging rhino takes the forward out penalty. Surely Big Chris has got th….. nope 3-2 Stockbridge. With maybe seconds left to halftime Town put themselves under more pressure with the old premier league back pass from kick off, finally the ref blew.

Half Time 2-3

Half time and the talk was we’ll take penalties right now little did we know what was about to come. A nice crowd with New Street’s game called off saw Paz under pressure at the tea bar and after sauntering down to The Shed End a familiar face or two. The sweets broken open and nerves steadied it was time for the second half. With both midfields working hard shots were few and far between. Owen was replaced by Logan Cook on 55 minutes this seemed to open the game up a bit more with Stockbridge’s Ben Hutchings given the freedom to roam down our left, a tidy looking player to boot testing the Andover defence on several occasions with teasing crosses, but to no avail easily snapped up by Big Chris in the Town goal. Luke a constant thorn in the Stockbridge side found himself in the 18 yard box with his back to goal the under pressure from Sam Charles, Luke turned only for Sam to stretch out a leg and Luke to go sprawling and the ref to point to the spot. Up stepped Malachi Johnson to stroke home the resulting penalty 3-3. The game was now firmly in the bag by the LAW of Malachi scores a penalty it’s in the bag. The game was swaying as quoted by Bob “proper cup game was in the making” , a corner for Town deep into the 80’s of minutes from which we saw 4 players including the Stockbridge keeper go up what happened who knows? All we do know the ball was over the line, who scored, was it an own goal? Town was in front, that must be it surely, hold on keep it tight, the ball in the Stockbridge half, job done and no penalty shoot out home in time for

tea or we can concede a corner and a goal in reckon about the same manor. 4-4 with around 4 minutes to go, great a late tea. A Stockbridge attack saw a ball flash towards the Town goal only for Big Chris to get down low and deflect across the goal and sometimes you say to yourself that was Stockbridge’s chance and Town’s slice of luck which left you wondering if it was all over with penalties to come. What happened with 2 minutes left would keep match of the day, sky sports news, euro sports and every football commentary programme talking for a month and replayed endlessly. A hopeful ball over the Stockbridge defence Luke was chasing the ball down, the linesman raised his flag for offside, the ref did not blow, the Stockbridge defence stopped, Malachi though ran to get the ball, the race was now on between Malachi, Finn Graydon (Stockbridge keeper) and a defender who had now realised the danger time slowed as Malachi Johnson got to the ball first and stroked it home. Cue absolute chaos scenes I probably never see again of mass confusion Town fans went from cheering to debating Town players doing the same, the Ref went to the linesman for a chat, Stockbridge players arguing with anyone who would listen. Lord knows what is was like in the main stand and on the benches. The ref finally pointed to the centre spot, Town were 5-4 up. The next 1min 45secs must have been the longest of my life certainly got more grey hairs now.

Finally the ref blew. Town had won. I was exhausted this wasn’t a cup game it was a masterpiece on a fine balance where the scales could have tipped either way. Years from now for those in crowd of 163 this game will be talked about. Stockbridge a great game and hopefully 2 more good games this season. The Ref Jim thankyou good job today hope you enjoyed yourself.

Man of the Match - Luke Holden (good work fella).

Once again thankyou for reading.

Yours exhausted from re-living the game,

Martyn