AFC Portchester 2–0 Andover Town

Andover Town visited a sun-drenched Blanchard Wells Stadium to face AFC Portchester, they made three changes from the team that started the match against Whitchurch, Liam Gilbert replaced Mcaulie Stubbs, Lloyd Thomas came in for Jarid Hixon in Goal and Victor Guiterrez replaced Zach Glasspool up front.

The match started well for Andover when an early chance fell to Victor Giuterrez, who set up Adam Grange whose shot flew wide. Just under a quarter of an hour gone, Portchester took the lead when a long cross from Rob Evans found Alex Baldacchino who had time to move the ball on to his right foot before firing past Lloyd Thomas. Portchester had several chances to increase their lead when a header from Baldacchino was saved by Thomas, and then then a header from Baldacchino went over the bar the next chance fell to Andy Todd who turned on the edge of the box and fired over. The last chance of the half fell to Skipper Joe Bye whose shot on goal was kept out by a diving full length save from Thomas. Just before the half ended, a free kick by Santafe-Vivo was heading for the top corner but Cameron Scott pushed it away for a corner. Then deep into injury time Portchester went further ahead when Andy Todd drilled his shot into the bottom corner. So, AFC Portchester who had most of the possession and more attempts on goal in the first half, went into the half time break 2-0 to the good.

The second half started and an early chance in the saw a shot from Bye that went wide of the target. Andover responded with a shot from Hibberd that went wide. On fifty five minutes Sam Pekun replaced Ross Gregory, which meant Liam Gilbert moved into central defence. A chance fell to Alex Dockree whose well struck shot hit the diving keeper’s legs and bounced to safety. Andover had a bit more possession in the second half and forced several corners but could not find a way past the home defence. In one attack a shot by Sam Pekun was deflected behind for a corner and from the resultant corner Dockrees firm header was well caught by Scott. Near the end of the match substitute Nesbeth was brought down in the Portchester penalty area but the referee waved away the visitors claims for a penalty. The match finished 2-0 to the home side, has a result Andover Town slip down to thirteenth place in the league table but with Whitchurch losing Andover Town are now mathematically safe from relegation.