Blackfield & Langley 3–1 Andover Town

Andover Town travelled to Blackfield and Langley’s ground on Newlands Road for the second in a row of three potentially difficult away league games. This Saturday they found their opponents on good form and not prepared to gamble with an important 3 points for their championship challenge. This combined with two of Andover’s forwards still unavailable meant even the bravest of attempts from the away team still resulted in a loss for them. It was a first appearance of Ryan Case on loan from Bath City during the game when he was brought on with Ben Cook in a double substitution for Michael Hubbard and Liam Hibberd early in the second half.

Both teams started in attacking mood. Reece Rusher was awarded a free kick within seconds of the start, which he took well, but Brad Snelling took it even better in the Blackfield and Langley goal. Very shortly afterwards Luke Cairney was being tested in the Andover goal by a Franklyn Clarke free kick which beat the wall but not the diving goalkeeper. The home side won their first corner early on, it was taken well, but cleared by the head of Alex Dockree. Rusher continued this game with the sparkling play he had demonstrated on Tuesday evening and it wasn’t long before some clever play by Zach Glasspool and Harrison Gilkes set him up for a shot. Snelling was able to save but it did provide Andover with a corner, unfortunately they were unable to make anything of it. The game was settling into a midfield battle with neither team looking the most likely to score, when Andover gave away a penalty. Clarke made no mistake in putting his team ahead, the ball was put into the bottom left hand corner, with Cairney diving in the opposite direction. Shortly afterwards, a free kick smartly controlled by Connor Cocklin, led to an attempt on goal by Adam Costello however the referee had blown his whistle for a foul before the final shot could be made. However the home side didn’t take long to extend their lead when an unchallenged run down the wing by Lerone Plummer resulted in a cross which found Clarke unmarked. The ball hit the back of the net and Blackfield and Langley were looking good for a comfortable win. Within minutes of the second goal a long ball from the half way line found Zach Glasspool out on the right hand side of the penalty area, the angles looked wrong and there didn’t seem to be any chance of scoring, but he managed to pull it back and Andover had narrowed the difference. This goal seemed to liven up the away side and it started to look like there was a battle developing. Blackfield and Langley, in fear of losing their 3 points, began a spell of sustained pressure. Cairney was under constant attack, Sam Griffin put one wide and there were a number of crosses which the Andover goalkeeper needed to take care of. Andover had chances to make the score even before the half time whistle. There were two particular moves, both involving Liam Hibberd, the first landing at the feet of Rusher whose cross was put out for a corner and the second fell awkwardly for Dockree.

Half time - Blackfield and Langley 2-1 Andover Town

Andover’s best spell of play was probably the beginning of the second half. Shortly after the double substitution Gilkes made a run down the wing looking for an opportunity to cross. Unfortunately a clear chance did not materialise and Gilkes ran out of pitch, resulting in a goal kick. Glasspool and Gilkes set up Rusher for a cross back to Glasspool which needed flicking back across goal. This time the challenge was too great and t he attacking move was unsuccessful. In the 56th minute a foul on Dockree in the box had the away side shouting for a penalty. None was given but this period of play was looking good for an equaliser. Only a few minutes later Joe Wright took a free kick which found Connor Cocklin who only just put the ball wide. The goal kick was taken, and against the flow of play at this time, Liam Robinson put one past Cairney close to the near post. From this point on Blackfield and Langley looked like winners and nearly scored a fourth, however this time Cairney came out to narrow the angles and the ball was hit straight at him. The home team continued to look dangerous and although Andover broke through the defence on a couple more occasions the chances were not easy to come by. Cook had a good chance when a Hallahan pass found his head in front of goal. Unfortunately the shot went straight towards Snelling. Fifteen minutes from the end there was a short run of play starting with a call for an Andover penalty for hand ball and ending with a Rusher attempted cross, when the away side could have found a second goal, but it wasn’t to happen. Blackfield and Langley displayed good control of the match and Andover were unable to create and finish the types of chances they have demonstrated throughout the season. They did fight hard though and didn’t stop trying until the whistle blew for full time.