Andover Town3–6○Denmead

Well at least it’s not raining. (This may be quick it won’t be painless.)

I have now broken the oven door; the Editor is seriously wondering whether I should be allowed in the kitchen. That is the status report from the Jones household. Jobless has refused to go out in this weather and is sleeping 26 hours a day. Oh to be a cat. A look out the window saw a yellow ball in the sky and the thermometer at a steady 1degree so big coat and sun hat it was.

Taxi driver was Blue Army Alan full of good cheer as the game was going ahead for once this year. Also feeling positive after the New Street cup game where we did well considering the gulf between us now.

The bar being manned by Son of Pas I was able to pour my own Guinness. Round to gather team sheets for the team board and a walk up to The Bank End. As normal, game predictions were spoken of. For me since club legends Owen Trappnell and Deano Smith I went for yellow card Owen and red card Deano. How was I to know?

Kick off was taken and it quickly became apparent that both teams looked ravaged for Valentine’s day and hadn’t played much football since before xmas. Passes were going astray the play was unpredictable with no cohesion and lucky bounces being everything, or in the case of Charlie Pyke pure graft chasing a loose ball down to the by line a first time cross for Luke Holden to somehow scuff it past the keeper at the near post. 1 nil up 85 mins to hold on. That seemed to settle the Blues as we began to for once to control the game. A midfield battle started with Andover looking comfortable and coming out on top we were beginning to breathe a bit easy. Until Denmead broke down the right a tussle broke out involving Deano and Denmead’s No.

10. I don’t know Deano went down the ref threw more cards about than Paul Daniels I still reckon I got a yellow. The outcome was a yellow for Deano, Owen and the Denmead No.10 we think. Deano for sure. With play resumed and some 30 minutes played Luke rushed in for a 50/50 ball outside the area with the on rushing keeper, pure determination saw Luke Holden get the ball but still with work to do to slide the ball from an acute angle. 2 nil Town and looking so good for it. This was 3 points in the bag, 3 points nearer safety what could possibly go wrong? A Denmead attack down the Andover left saw Deano decide to swipe the legs of the ever roving Denmead No.10 just outside the box. Well that was an easy one for the ref Deano red we were down to 10. Hope left us, we know the story. Within 2 min it was 2-1 just before half time 2-2. That was it, half time 2-2, both goals coming from the gap left by the sending off. A walk round to the Alan Mussell Shed End saw a quick chat with Old Man Bill and Graham Cousins both expressing great disappointment.

Kick off resumed and we were 3-2 down within 30 seconds still the defensive gap was not covered. Denmead were now dominating with the man advantage and it was soon 4-2. The 5th was a penalty Denmead didn’t even celebrate. The 6th came and that was it ... well almost, Malachi Johnson slammed in a 3rd for Town, gave us something to cheer about. The welcome sound of the full time whistle came. We went home.

If you got this far apologies for being doom and gloom and thanks for reading. Away for the next 2 games. If you fancy a go at the match report now’s your chance.

Thanks to the Editor for editing.

Yours from the terrace Martyn Jones.