SYDENHAMS (WESSEX) LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER 2019
ANDOVER TOWN 3 VERWOOD TOWN 1

A terrible second half dampened enthusiasm. A competitive first 45 minutes took us in at half time ahead 1-0. In the opening minutes of the second half we looked OK but it was obvious complacency was settling in as the half progressed. 59 / 68 / 70 min was ‘nail in coffin’ time. We had given away 3 precious points.

Andover’s initial attacks were controlled by a good back four. We looked comfortable on the ball and playing well. Andover varied their attacking options and we had Evans and particularly Danvers doing well against good flank players. Kelly and Gajic plus Haigh at the back made it difficult for Andover to break through.

Half way through the half we should have gone ahead as Danvers robbed his opponent and a slide rule pass found Vint. Vint’s run on goal was stifled by a strong tackle but won a free kick. Dyer stepped up and put a great ball on Stttard’s head but saw the ball go wide.

2 minutes to half time and after a Taylor run and low cross was fisted out, the keeper remained on the edge of his box. Heggan spotted the wanderer and chipped the ball into the top corner. 1-0.

Half Time 1-0

We seemed to amble into the second half. Andover didn’t take long to recognize the change and pushed on. We were now on the back foot.

Hall, Heggan and Dyer were suddenly over worked as Andover pushed through the middle. We didn’t maintain any sort of control and on 59 minutes opened up. It was as if Moses had come on as a sub and parted us like the Red Sea. A pleasant trot through the middle for an Andover forward, a simple tap sideways and another player drifted in to roll the ball past a despairing Haigh. 1-1.

Jaydon Taylor came off to give Ollie Finch a run on 61 minutes but we struggled to change the % possession and Andover continued to push us back.

68 minutes. Again Moses was there to wave his walking stick and another simple goal put the home side ahead.

Could we offer some form of rally ?? No. 2 minutes later we left a gap wider than the M4 for a stroller to prance down their left. A low cross and we watched another trotter put the ball into the bottom corner. 1-3.

Haigh was the most active participant in the last five minutes as a rampant Andover tried to grab a fourth. Haigh won the challenge and we finished without any more changes on the score board.

Result 1-3