○Whitehill & Bordon2–1Andover Town

2 Tractors ………….

This week has been a bit chaotic with having been out 3 nights on the trot hence the late match report for Tuesday game so after drawing breath Friday night, Saturday came around a morning shop (more a mid-morning shop-Ed.), Lunch, gather the sweets up and it was time to steer the hope mobile to see the Boys in Blue. After of course scratching Jobless behind the ear we may have settled our differences (that’s what you think-Ed.). Inland Weather Forecast Whitehill & Borden---Hot All The Way Hot. Advise Shorts. Today’s game is Whitehill & Borden away. At this point words need to be spoken first it is by far the worst ground in the league in so much there is a pitch and floodlights. A drink nope, a seat, bring your own, toilets and dressing room in the school someone said it was ¾ mile to them. Second, it’s a twilight ground on the sat nav not only do you end up in the middle of a housing estate sat nav will take you down some of the most awful roads in Britain, so you have to be judicious and force the sat nav to your will. Best way is down to Winchester pick up the A31 and let sat nav Sally take you from there. Ah the A31 past Ropley that has the garden with 2 tractors in it that man is winning in life (or maybe he has finished the kitchen, and his wife has rewarded him-Ed.). As I pulled into the school car park not risking the housing estate I was greeted by a puzzled Gary the Gateman looking for the pitch. With experience on my side we meandered our way onwards with Gary commentating “would never have found this” and “where is Blue Army Alan?” and that my dear readers is a good question. Only a doctor’s note can get you out from going to this game and yet somehow on holiday he managed to get hold of one. Although I will be checking up. This season saw some ground improvement, a partial concrete path and an unfinished covering so signs they are improving, still not my favourite ground. A few words with the ref for team sheets saw that Son of Crouch unavailable due to a knock sustained Tuesday which was a shame (don’t-Ed.) since he’s really growing into the game (you did- Ed.).

Town were playing in their lovely black & white 2nd kit which didn’t bode well as I have only ever seen them collect 1 point in this strip. Anyhow Town kicked off and for once moved the ball quickly into the opposition half. Although the attack was snuffed out it was nice to see the ball in the opposition half so soon. The battle was on with Whitehill pressing and the Town defending it was perhaps after 20 mins that I truly noticed something, as you are only able to stand at the side of the pitch this was happening on the far side, Malachai was at right back and he was looking absolute rock solid nobody and nothing was getting pass him, the best bit was his ability to spray balls 30-40 yards with Amazon like delivery. Why have we been wasting him in midfield for years it was a revelation and a joy to watch. This was partly why the host were getting nowhere; Malachi had shut down nearly a 6th of the pitch. About 25 mins in the host gained a corner and had without doubt been reading my match reports with the ball going beyond the back post and pinged back in again to cause chaos thankyou Big Chris for keeping us in the game again. Town had been trying to pop the ball over the top only for every time the linesman to raise his flag so much so whether the ref had words but the linesman was changed. Whitehill gained another corner which played to the corner of the box and was shut down by Owen Trapnell. Town attacked with a wild ball going over the bar. The host came forward a cross from the left and smart save by Big Chris pushed it round the post for Whitehill’s 3rd corner and Town was 1 nil down. A bitter disappointment as we were playing quite well. Town kicked off again with Luke Holden clean through it was up to the Whitehill’s no.10 to bring him down, although in a line was not last man there was no one else to cover a yellow was the outcome free kick given and the Whitehill had something to do by catching the ball. The host gained another corner, score this and we were done for sure, once again Owen saw the danger and closed the far post man down and that was about that for the first half. 1 nil it stood.

With the walk to far back to the dressing room both teams took shade and rest under the foliage nearby, I broke out the wine gums Waitrose finest a firm favourite of The Blue Army. Battle resumed with The Town looking the brighter although getting nowhere with the ball over the top when 10 mins in with a fine run and pass inside by Malachai saw probably the best play all season by Town with what seemed every forward player taking a touch and pass across the host box find its way to the by line to be pulled back for Charlie (don’t tell him) Pyke to slam the ball past the Whitehill keeper. 1-1 and worth it. The hosts kicked off and almost immediately went ahead, the ball striking the upright then the cross bar finally falling into the arms of Big Chris. The next 15 mins saw the host break the Towns lines 4 times with open goal or Big Chris to beat only for the to fail, with Big Chris keeping us in the game on 2 of those occasions. With 15 mins to go the host brought a young 17-year-old winger which turned into a great battle between him and Malachi, actually beating Malachi once to gain a corner. The ball came over hit Charlie (don’t tell him) Pyke on the chest and trickled into the net. 2-1 Whitehall. Josh Bertie stopped thinking he was going to be flagged when through on a 50/50 ball. Whitehall got a corner went premier league and kept it in the corner for 2 more the ref had enough and blew up. 2-1 to Whitehall it was and with that relegation was sealed with 3 games left to go.

Well thanks for reading if you got this far.

Thanks, Editor, for trying to make me look good.

See you all at Broughton.

Martyn.