Andover Town5–1○Totton & Eling

Andover Town started the penultimate game of the season and the last match of the season at Portway knowing it would take a major upset from Laverstock in their final two games for Town to have any chance at all of securing the fifth and final play off place in Division 1. Sadly Andover's form since the beginning of March has not remotely matched their form in the season leading up to March. Andover have taken 3 out of 15 available points in their last 5 matches whereas Laverstock have taken a maximum 15 points from their last 5 matches.

The kick-off was greeted by bright sunshine accompanied by a very cold wind. The first 10 minutes was a fairly turgid affair with most of the play taking place in a very crowded midfield area. Not until the half hour was there any significant goalmouth action from either side and then in the 31st minute a good break from midfield by Totton released striker Mino Desauda who coolly stroked the ball into the net despite the best efforts of keeper Steinborn-Busse to save it. Andover were now struggling to create any kind of rhythm. Numerous passes went astray with little or no creativity and anyone watching would have thought that Totton were a top 5 team and not a team rooted to the foot of the table with only 11 points all season to their name. As half time approached any faint hopes of a play off place had totally disappeared after a very disappointing first half performance by Town. Manager Bertie had a face like thunder as he left the pitch and the air would have pretty blue in the changing room during the half time interval. A huge improvement had to be made in the second half if there was to be any chance of turning the game.

The second half started much the same as the first half ended but changed dramatically which coincided with the introduction of substitute Ryan Griffiths in the 52nd minute. This proved to be the catalyst for a second half performance which was every bit as good as the first half had been bad. Whatever was said in the dressing room at half time improved Town's performance immeasurably from now on. In the 60th minute a sharply taken chance by Wayne Robinson opened the scoring for Andover and the following 20 minute spell saw an incredible turn around with 4 goals coming in quick succession. Ben Emans scored in the 62nd minute with a rasping cross shot, in the 72nd minute Jake Watson almost broke the back of the net with a fierce drive from 25 yards out, in the 80th minute Ryan Griffiths chipped the ball over the keeper and a minute later Wayne Watson repeated his earlier effort with another stunning shot from the edge of the area. The age-old cliche that football is a game of two halves had never been truer and Town closed the game out to record a comfortable 5-1 victory.

So the last Portway game of this season ended with all the players applauding the 139 fans in the stadium and hopes turned to what Laverstock might or might not in their last two games. Even if 6th place is to be Andover's finishing position it has been a very creditable performance by the team throughout the season.