Andover Town 2–1 Laverstock & Ford

Andover Town had their second match at the Portway in four days with, as per Saturday, a tie in the Salisbury Hospitals Cup holding more attraction than a pre-season friendly and with Laverstock and Ford providing the opposition. A pleasant evening in terms of the weather.

A prompt start and a game that set off and continued at a brisk pace throughout. In the opening minute Laverstock were forced to defend a free kick before swiftly taking play to the other end where Jim Way miscued his shot. The impressive Lewis Wakefield on the visitors’s left flank produced a superb cross with Tommy Campbell Smith’s flying header only inches too high and as the game continued to be end to end Luke Adams’s effort for Andover was well held by keeper Alexis Aguero. Home custodian Jack Hopwood was fortunate when he completely missed a cross and saw the ball bounce off one of his defenders and back into his hands but redeemed himself by then hanging on to a fiercely driven free kick. Wakeford failed to make contact with what would have been a free header before Andover took the lead as the clock ticked past the half hour mark. One run from LUKE ADAMS ended with a shot that was too straight but a second that quickly followed was halted by a challenge from behind, the penalty was unquestioned and Adams found the bottom corner from the spot. Both sides created danger from well taken free kicks before the half ended with the home side in front.

Half-time - Andover Town 1-0 Laverstock & Ford

That lead was not to last long as within two minutes of the restart the scores were level. Laverstock attacked down the right with Campbell Smith supplying the cross which DOM JACKSON, not the tallest player in the box, headed past Hopwood. The goal seemed to have more effect on the home side than the visitors with Emans supplying crosses that led to a corner and a shot that was too high and keeper Aguer coming a long way out of his area to beat Adams to a through ball. The threat was still there however at the other end with a header that was narrowly wide and a shot from Russell Jones well held by Hopgood. Adams saw a cross deflected in to the side netting before, with some edge creeping in to the game, Jackson collected the first yellow card of the evening with the visitors seemingly feeling that some decisions were going against them. Smith, who had been quiet thus far for the home side shaved the post with a snapshot on the turn and an Emans cross was deflected by a defender agonisingly wide before the home side regained the lead with the game in its final ten minutes plus the time to be added on for numerous substitutions. An Emans cross from the left was cleared to the far touchline, returned across the area with some force and ADAM PATTISON’S header bounced down off the bar behind the line and spun back in to play. There was a moment’s confusion as to whether a goal had been scored but efficient teamwork between referee and assistant saw the goal rightly awarded. Still time for a further booking for each side for an unneccessary bout of “handbags” before the final whistle ended a very enjoyable game that was a credit to all concerned. If both Clubs maintain this standard throughout the season they have every chance of success come next April,

This result means that Andover are ensured of a place in the Final of the Competition, having won all their three games, which is to be staged at Laverstock and Ford on a date to be advised, As to their opponents it is very difficult to find the results of other matches so they will have to come under the “to be advised heading”as well. Andover incidentally last won the Competition in 2014 defeating Bemerton Heath in the Final.

Lastly my apologies to Laverstock and Fordn if I have any of the names wrong. They were taken off a handwritten sheet and I have nothing to check them against.