Andover Town3–2○Petersfield Town

On an afternoon when the wind was often strong, often swirling in different directions but always, always bitterly cold Andover scored a late winner after the visitors had twice come back from a goal down to take their unbeaten run in the League to twelve matches. The game was marred however by an injury to Petersfield’s Bailey Newbury some ten minutes from time which necessitated a fifteen - minute break in play and the player leaving the ground in an ambulance. One can but hope the injury is not too severe and that recovery is full and rapid.

After receiving the Division One Club of the Month Award for October the home side started the stronger with a cross confidently held by keeper Scott Heelas, a Josh Berti shot blocked and a free kick on the edge of the area rather wasted. Heelas made a superb reflex save to deny Ben Emans before the home defence got in to a tangle and were rescued by a header and some neat footwork by keeper Karl Steinborn Busse on the edge of his area. Another free kick was too high before the home side made the break through after twenty minutes. Emans sent Brendon Holmes clear on the right and the low cross from the bye line seemed to go almost along the goal line before CHARLES MEDWAY stabbed the ball home at the far post. The lead lasted just five minutes before a long clearance saw the home defence appealing for offside, there was no flag and BRANDON JEWELL coolly lobbed the stranded goalkeeper. Almost immediately Andover were back in front with the third goal in the space of ten minutes as an Emans shot was blocked and DAVID JERRARD fired the loose ball low in to the corner from some fifteen yards. Petersfield had been enjoying more possession as the game went on and should really have been level at the break. Once again, the home defence was lacking and Matt Bilof found himself some ten yards out with only Stein borne Buss to beat but scuffed the ball straight at the keepers legs. With the halftime whistle seconds later it sadly was a missed chance.

Petersfield were offside in their first attack after the restart and over the course of the ninety minutes they fell foul of the flag rather frequently. The Holmes and Emans combination on the right for Andover was a constant source of danger and Heelas saved well from Medway after they had made the opening. As in the first half the visitors came back in to the game and a Jewell free kick bought a spectacular save from the home keeper before the next attack saw the scores level again. A speculative diagonal cross from the left was not cleared and JAMIE RANDALL sent the loose ball high in to the roof of the net. Before the game was restarted there was a conversation between Referee and Assistant that culminated with the home side’s Alfie Moulding being shown a red card and one can only assume that something was said out of turn. Then came the injury as Petersfield substitute Bailey Newbury went down after seemingly catching his studs in the turf – certainly there was no physical contact – and it was obvious by the reactions of other players that it was serious. After a break of perhaps fifteen minutes, with the players having returned to the dressing rooms, play restarted and an Emans free kick bought another fine save from Heelas but the keeper was left stranded when JOSH BERTIE’s looping header went high inside the post for what was to prove the decisive goal. The depleted home side saw out the final minutes and remain very much in the promotion race.

Petersfield will feel hard done by to lose so late in the game after twice coming from behind, but overall, the home side always looked the more dangerous and the Club of the Month Award did not prove to be a curse, as is often deemed to be the case The Officials dealt very well with the injury situation and again all will hope for a speedy recovery. And it was COLD !