WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
SATURDAY 28TH MARCH 2015
ANDOVER TOWN 3 VERWOOD TOWN 2

Within the first four minutes we had created two openings and should have scored. It was a case of near misses again.

The first attack gave Cleft a chance to shine and a good run and cross was inches away from Groves' toe.

Buck started the next opportunity with good defending and excellent use of the ball inside the midfield to Cleft. Cleft back to Buck and then on to Brimson. Brimson spotted Fisk free and his pass was inch perfect. Fisk whipped the ball low into Whelan's path and the shot had ooh's and aah's as it took varnish off the outside of the post.

A good start but one that Andover reacted to by upping their pace and marking.

A central move was stopped by a long Donachy leg before Gajic headed clear a high ball into our box. It was end to end for a few minutes and then Brimson collected a Dyer pass, coasting past a defender before releasing Whelan. Whelan slipped past his marker and placed a perfect shot past the keeper to give us the lead. 1-0.

Andover's retaliatory strike was a left flank cross and a volley that inched over the bar.

Play was confined to midfield for a few minutes. Dyer had the edge and sparked another attack with a ball wide left. Cleft cut inside and squared back for Groves to turn his man but topped the ball giving an easy stop for the keeper.

We were enjoying slightly more possession than Andover but the home side were always dangerous on the break.

17 minutes gone and we gave away a free kick just outside the box. A terrific strike looked destined to level scores but Lynch made an exceptional save palming the ball away from danger.

Good football down Andover's left flank was halted by Evans. Evans passed inside to Dyer and a raking ball landed for Fisk to run on to and try a shot. The keeper made a great save.v 31 minutes and Fisk had chalk on his boots as he rounded his marker. A cut back to the edge of the box was picked up by Whelan and there was no doubting the outcome as the ball slammed into the roof of the net. 2-0.

No more opportunities presented themselves before the whistle so we went in at half time 2-0 up.

The half time dressing room chat emphasised the need for tight discipline to be maintained so that we didn't suffer the same way as we did last week.

Ten minutes had passed with a reasonable reaction to Carl Poore's instructions but then we appeared to slacken and a couple of shots from Andover had Lynch scrambling to keep us in front.

Gajic cleared a high ball from our box and Donachy superbly dealt with aerial threats from flank crosses.

We were now reliant on counter attacks rather than leading attacks and with 59 minutes gone produced a classic counter through Dyer and Brimson. A free kick was awarded for a foul on Dyer. Up stepped Whelan. The ball hit the wall of defenders and spun off to the left. Evans raced in but before he could get a shot away was dumped by a strong tackle. The resultant free kick was partly deflected by a defender and Groves stretched but not far enough to touch the ball past the keeper. It was cleared by the full back and finished up over the dead ball line.

In came the corner and Groves muscled his way through a tackle to try an angled shot. A brilliant save from the keeper at the foot of the post ended our chance of increasing the lead.

60 minutes and Andover went straight through the middle trying a shot on goal. An unusual fumble by the reliable Lynch gave away a corner. A multitude of heads went up and it was an Andover one that connected to plant the ball into the net making it 2-1. De Ja Vu ….?

62 minutes another corner and loss of disciplines gave space for the ball to roll across the goal line and be slid in by an Andover boot., 2-2.

We had lost the plot. A scrappy period followed from the team as we misplaced passes and looked naïve as Andover pressed us back.

67 minutes and Cleft gave way for Rutten. It didn't alter the performance at all and we continued to scramble.

Dyer kept plugging away and linking with Whelan split Andover's central defence. Whelan continued the run but topped his shot on the edge of the box.

81 minutes Fisk came off for Murray and 5 minutes later Brimson gave way for Green.

Green and Murray's fresh legs gave a momentary lift but with 92 minutes gone we gave away a silly foul between the half way line and our box. The ball looped over a few players, landed in the box and bounced past Lynch. 2-3. A lesson yet again in what happens when you lose concentration. All credit to Andover though for keeping their heads up when 2-0 down and persevering to get the three points.

Result 2-3.