○Blackfield & Langley2–3Andover Town

Andover Town stormed in to the quarter finals of the Sydenhams Wessex League Cup with victory away to Premier Dvision side, Blackfield & Langley. Three years ago, both sides were battling for supremacy in the top division on their quest for Southern league football with Blackfield eventually winning the title by one point. Since then, both sides have had mixed fortunes but with a view of consolidating and building again for the future. Andover came in to the game after a sterile draw away to East Cowes knowing their last away victory was in the same cup competition in the last round. They welcomed back Josh Bertie and Zac Hine from suspension whilst Howard Nhemachena was available for selection. Dease Kerrison returned after missing the weekends game whilst Andrew Partridge came in for his debut. Brendan Holmes sadly succumbed to his injury and was unavailable for selection.

The quality of football was evident for all to see in terms of the pace and intensity as well as the willingness for both teams to try and play football. George Baxter made a decisive double save in the first 10 minutes which kept the home team at bay. The away supporters were praying for Andover not to make a slow start and fall behind early but, moments later, Blackfield’s River Smith netted the opener. Essential that Andover rallied quickly, they came forward and were awarded a penalty not long after. The impressive Callum Sweeney stepped up and scored his 2nd in three games to bring the teams level. Not long after, Andover took the lead. A goalmouth scramble saw the loose ball picked up by Josh Bertie who got the ball out of his feet and slot the ball under Besant. Despite no let up in the pace of the game, neither side could add to their goal tallies and Andover went in at the break 2-1 up.

If the crowd thought they would be a dip in the second half they were soon proved wrong. A free kick to the left of the Blackfield box was whipped in by Sweeney and the cross met by the oncoming Josh Bertie who managed to get an outstretched leg to prod the ball in to the goal for his seventh in ten games and put Andover two goals In front. Back came Blackfield and Langley but the defence, superbly marshalled by Owen Trapnell and Howard Nhemachena, gave very little away. Full backs Adam Pattison and Wat Jones tucking in to keep the game compact when necessary but looking to get forward whenever possible. Partridge, on his debut, slotted in well alongside Harry Barkaway with both players relentless in their pressing whilst Josh Hewson, Ben Emans and Bertie working well on and off the ball. As the game entered the final 10 minutes, the home side took the ascendancy as Andover tired but it wasn’t until the final few minutes that Blackfield pulled a goal back. Player-manager, Saadi, shot from distance and the ball took a deflection to take the ball away from Baxter in the Andover goal. After what seemed an eternity, the referee eventually brought proceedings to an end. Blackfield will no doubt count themselves unlucky but no one could begrudge Andover and their supporters for this win. A positive start to the season which now sees them into the quarter finals against highly rated U,S.Portsmouth on Tuesday 17th November and a league encounter on Saturday against one of the pre-season favourites for the league, Hythe & Dibden. Both at the Portway where it is hoped another bumper crowd will be present to urge the team on to greater success.