Andover Town1–1○Whitehill & Bordon

6ft 7 Football Heaven .............

It’s been a quiet Easter in the Jones’ house The Editor has been laid up with a cold and my the niece (Rachel) gone back home, there has been no excitement (destruction-Ed.) in the kitchen. Jobless is in between seasons doesn’t know where to go outside or hunker down on the bed. Match day morning saw me up later than I would have liked, a quick round up of who needed to be fed: Jobless, The Editor (in bed (I am ill-Ed.)) and Sgt. Tom the stray cat out the front (don’t ask). A run up to Swindon to visit Mum & Dad stopping at the butchers in Marlbrough, that place can relieve you of some money but oooooo those sausage rolls! Breakfast in Swindon, some chat and plenty of time to roll back for lunch before footie. No my all singing all dancing modern tech watch had not put itself forward grrrrrr a swift return in time to feed and water all within the house. Before my Taxi ride By Blue Army Al. Inland Fishing Report for Non League Football – The Portway overcast, visibility good, wind light to medium variable, could be showers—suggest big coat. A quick catch up with Al in the car as in would after last year’s no-show would Whitehill & Borden show up and we lose this game we’re down talk we arrived at The Portway. Entering The Fortress Portway Gary the Gateman sprung the news that Josh Bertie had returned this cannot be surely but lo and so it came to be. After a visit to our best friend Pas (is this because he is a barman?-Ed) we found our thirst slaked. A walk round to write up teams saw me intercepted by Beryl Carr for a quick chat. An apology to the visitors I didn’t have time to put your team sheet up. A wander round to The Bank End saw us catch up with Old Man Bill good to see an old friend.

A quick look at the team sheet saw that Son of Crouch was playing from the off, from the minutes played (don’t-Ed) a player who looks to really grow into the game (…and you did-Ed).

kick off taken and the first 5 minute chaos ensued the game settled with no team making any headway with Son of Crouch playing centre back we seem to have a more solid defence which after the season so far is nice to see in one sequence putting 3 tackles in quick succession across the front of our 18 yard box. Probably the first play of note the visitors played a ball forward and a 50/50 challenge saw Sam Scannellie come off worst and off the pitch injured. As normal Town seemed to be unable to progress up the pitch and when they did the attack petered out. On 25 mins the first shot on goal was registered by visitors smothered by Big Chris. 5 minutes later Big Chris made a fine double save to really keep us in the game. 35 minutes in a 50/50 challenge saw Adien Savage go down with a knock to the head it was bad a head injury that had him paying a visit to Basingstoke A&E, speedy recovery is hoped for there. Play resumed some 20 minutes later, a rare Town attack saw the ball struck first time from outside the box and sail wildly over. Not a lot seemed to happen apart from the ref would not blow up for half time until 4.30 with the fans left wondering if we were going to play straight through to 90 mins.

A wander round to The Alan Mussell Shed End saw a quick catch up with Graham Cousins and then onwards picked up Gary The Gateman and settled into our position for kick off with the wind against us well swirling more we were once again penned into our own half, Son of Crouch doing sterling work with some big clearances putting his foot through the ball a rare a Town move saw us break with the move ending in a Malachi shot to the keepers arms. The visitors broke and in a sweeping move waltzed through our defence for them to score. I will say this it was the first real shot and the first time they had looked dangerous all game probably on 60 minutes 1-nil to the visitors. Town now had to go for it which can lead to us been open at the back so life was going to get interesting. We pressed more but every ball seemed to be to quick and go for goal kick, intercepted or a tame shot into the keepers arms. Time was ticking on another move with forward momentum saw the visitors break a great ball to the far post for goal number 2 and the striker mis-kicked the ball straight out for a much relieved goal kick. Time was almost out when we received a throw deep into Whitehalls half every throw so far had failed to miss Son of Crouch although Malachi had managed to knock the ball goalwards once to the waiting keepers arms. The throw taken and another a quick glance of the watch said that was it a scramble by Town a clearance by Whiethall and we had another throw. Sam Churchill launched the ball for once Son of Crouch got the touch over the Whitehalls defence it was going out, no a town player was there to knock it back would the ball had gone in? I don’t know but Son of Crouch made sure looked like it came off his foot, shin and knee, we didn’t care it was in it was 6 foot 7 and football heaven. Somehow we could maybe snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat. 1-1. Whitehall shot wildly from kick off Big Chris practiced his diving technique the ref blew for full time. Every town fan was cheering and celebrating.

Man Of The Match Son of Crouch (Leon Fitzgerald (you beauty))

Thankyou for reading if you got this far.

Thanks to Editor (wife)

You Blues!

Martyn Jones