Andover Town 4–0 Portland United

Both Andover Town and their visitors, the 13th placed Portland United, needed a win today as neither have had a particularly good run of league games recently. What the game produced was a masterclass by the home side in ‘scoring and containing’. Andover won convincingly earning another 3 points to add to their league leading total. Today’s game was the first for two weeks for Andover, following what has seemed like a winter break, with recent matches being postponed due to inclement weather. Andover’s most recent team additions, Adam Costello and Ryan Case, both had a good match with Costello being particularly impressive.

From the start Mike Gosney put his stamp on the game with a signature run and cross, the cross went wide, but it put serious pressure on the Portland defence within the first minute of play. This was very shortly followed by a Jason Silver cross to Zach Glasspool who was in his favourite place, in front of goal. This time Glasspool was unable to score but already the home side had demonstrated they meant to win, and if possibly, by a lot of goals. Then in the 8th minute Gosney played a fantastic ball across the pitch for Silver to chase. The Portland defence were unable to keep up with Silver’s pace which allowed him to make a pass to Zach Glasspool where the centre forward’s intuitive sense of goal direction didn’t let Andover down. The goal was well put together and looked like it was going to be the first of many. Following the restart Portland had a couple of chances which they didn’t make the most of. Sanchez Baker put a shot wide and then Tom Bearwish seemed to replicate the chance with an equally ineffective shot, to almost the same place, wide of goal. Case was playing further forward than in his first game with Andover two weeks ago and this put him in a strong position on a number of occasions to threaten the Portland defence. An inspired hold and pass by Glasspool allowed Silver to make a cross toward Ben Cook in front of goal. Cook was unable to finish the manoeuvre but the ball ended up with Case just out-side the penalty area. Unfortunately Case could not score but his attempt was solid. The first challenge on young Kieran McHardy in the Andover goal came from Lee Sharpe twenty minutes into the first half when a good cross, which could have been described as an attempt, was punched clear by the home side keeper to safety. Several minutes later a hand ball incident led to an Andover free kick just outside the penalty area. The kick was taken by Gosney and landed with Costello for a chance on goal. The subsequent clearance by Portland resulted in them handling it inside the penalty area. Andover were awarded the penalty and Glasspool stood up to take. Although on target Glasspool didn’t get it past Sean Lillington in goal and the keeper cleared the ball and avoided providing a second chance for an Andover player. Andover continued to apply pressure to Portland and although they had the majority of play the closing minutes of the first half became increasingly more frustrating for the home crowd as a string of good attempts came to nothing. Glasspool was involved in a handful of moves with both Michael Hubbard and Gosney which could have ended more successfully. Hubbard then had another couple of chances, one requiring Lillington to put the ball out for a corner and the other went just wide.

Half time Andover Town 1 Portland United 0

The second half saw a continuation of the home side applying pressure. Both Silver and Gosney caused the Portland defence difficulties with their speed and accuracy of crosses. Shortly after the restart Gosney found himself taking a free kick just outside the penalty area. The shot negotiated the wall but not Lillington, it had been hit hard but the keeper took it securely. Andover made their first substitution of the game and brought on George Hallahan for Glasspool. Next there seemed to be a period of midfield play where neither team were looking particularly fluent and the game went through a stop/start phase. Then, from nowhere, Andover scored their second goal. A long pass to Hallahan looked far too ambitious but he chased and retrieved the ball near the corner flag to pass back for Mike Gosney who slammed it into the back of the net. After this second goal Portland were not given any opportunity to fight for a come-back. Andover were too solid in defence and too strong in midfield for the away side. Silver continued to set up chances as he was able to find space due to his unequaled pace down the far wing. A clever flick back by Silver found Hubbard in a scoring opportunity. At first it looked like he had hesitated too long, but Michael Hubbard made the shot and Andover had their third. This goal was well deserved as Hubbard had worked hard in midfield as part of the efficient containing play. In two further Andover substitutions Alex Dockree was brought on for Case and Reece Rusher replaced Silver. Dockree nearly added to the score when his head came in contact with a corner kick. However the ball went over and landed on the top netting. With a few minutes of play left Portland had what was probably their best chance, from a corner kick but McHardy was just too good and he took the subsequent shot safely. In the final minutes of added, time Mike Gosney scored once more with a shot that was deflected on its way into the goal. The pitch celebrations were well deserved as Andover had fulfilled the scoring potential shown in the first half. The home side win was dominating and clinical. Although Portland put together a number of moves which were promising they were unable to execute them well and their chances were few and far between. Andover looked like league leaders and the score reflects the run of play on the day.