WESSEX LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 4TH MARCH 2023
VERWOOD TOWN 2 ANDOVER NEW STREET 3

Last week with only three minutes of the game left and drawing 1-1 we gifted Petersfield two goals and handed them three points. This week with two minutes left we gifted New Street a winner and handed over another three points.

A team that can play as well as we can should be knocking on the door of a top set but we don’t seem to be able to close a game down when necessary.

Andover pushed on from the start with a direct approach. Dave Kerr celebrated his birthday robbing the ball from the toes of a runner and clearing the area.

Andover gained a corner breaking down the right when Broom blocked a cross from the bye line. Ponder rose high to clear but we had no one to collect. Another lob had Broad clearing but this time finding Fishlock. Good feet took him past his marker but the pass to McWilliams was slightly off cue and was intercepted and cleared.

A good opening spell followed with both teams looking for goals.

Carswell and McWilliams caught the eye with good football but McWilliams final effort was well taken by the keeper.

The game spilled end to end. ANS won a couple of corners but Kerr and Broom won the heading duals.

A good link developed on our left with McWilliams creating space. 25 minutes gone and Mason picked up a McWilliams through ball. A pin point cross found Carswell and an unstoppable header flew past the keeper. 1-0.

Two minutes later Storey won a strong tackle and set up Mason for another run and cross. Fishlock was inches short in touching the ball over the line.

We were still celebrating going ahead when ANS fired a high cross into the box, We left it unattended and suffered by allowing a simple tap in to level scores. 1-1.

ANS pressed hard but we went in at half time without any further goals.

Half Time 1-1

New Street’s half time talk seemed to have injected some adrenalin and they pushed hard to pin us in our third.

Carswell and Storey dropped a bit deeper as we weathered the storm. Our counter attacks should have yielded but again we missed some good opportunities.

Coombes was busy for a while while at the other end we went close a couple of times through Joe Smith’s efforts and a McWilliams volley that grazed the post.

21 minutes gone and McWilliams drifted through to plant his 12th of the season past the keeper. 2-1.

Andover’s response was immediate and we did we’ll to quell the barrage.

Six minutes after our second goal we yielded to a deep cross when giving space for a header to beat Coombes making it 2-2.

Then came a nail biting finish as both teams went for the winner.

We cracked on 46 minutes when a clearance by Andover’s full back sailed over defenders into the box and a runner put the ball in the net. 2-3.

A minute and a half left. We threw everything into a last effort to score. A corner with seconds left saw 22 players in Andover’s box with Joe Coombes launching himself high to connect but it was an Andover head that got to it first.

The whistle blew on a disappointing result but one that hardens resolve for the future.

Result 2-3