Andover Town1–1○Totton & Eling

On a pleasant afternoon at the Portway Stadium, with the pitch looking in good condition, Andover Town welcomed Totton & Eling in a Wessex League match. Both teams had started well in the league and both unbeaten so, a keen match in prospect. Town made just two changes from the mid-week match. The match proved to be frustrating for the home supporters and the visitors must be pleased to have an outstanding keeper in Eyres who proved to be their saviour.

The visitors started the quickest and showed that they meant business. Town defence held out the first couple of attacks. Town broke out of defence and a promising attack ended with Emans being given offside. With 5 minutes gone, Totton then produced some neat football and found Russell on the right and his cross was turned in by centre forward Thompson. This now put Town on the back foot and they needed to find something quickly. Emans had a good run down the wing but Eyres in the visitor’s goal was equal to his shot. Totton nearly came unstuck when keeper Eyres came out quickly from his goal in an attempt to clear the on coming ball with Town’s Griffiths in pursuit but his clearance failed as he hit the forward and the rebound headed goal wards but a defender got there first and the danger was averted. Eyres was called again to save a fierce shot from Smith putting it over for a corner. The visitors responded gaining a corner and Weaden’s header was easily taken by Steinborn-Busse. Totton’s Thompson was looking threatening but Town’s defence was holding out. Andover were looking better as the game progressed. As the match reached half way through the first half Town were searching for the equaliser but they couldn’t find a way through and past the Visitors keeper Eyres who was in fine form. Totton were looking dangerous on the break with winger Santarelli threatening. With the game moving into the 15 minutes that man again Eyres was called to make saves from Griffiths & Emans. As the half drew close to the end, Totton had a corner but the header from the corner went straight to Steinborn-Busse. Hale drove a shot across the goal but went wide.

Half-time Andover Town 0-1 Totton & Eling

Andover came out for the second half looking determined to get back on level terms. They had a corner early on but Owen’s header went wide. Then with 52 minutes gone Town won a free kick outside the box, the resulting kick found Brendan Holmes who shrugged of his challenger to put the ball past Eyres so Town were level !! Totton were still looking dangerous on the break but their efforts came to nothing. Just few minutes after Andover’s equaliser, they thought they were taking the game when Griffiths was brought down in the penalty area. Much protests resulted by the Totton defenders but their arguments made no difference. Griffiths stepped up to take the penalty BUT the Totton hero of the day Eyres saved the kick much to the delight of the visitors’ defenders. Andover were still searching for the winner and their defence was holding well and coping well with the Totton’s attack. An Andover attack down the right with some good work by Williams found Holmes and his cross caused panic in the visitor’s box and it was booted wildly for a corner. Both sides were looking for a winner, Andover seemed more likely but neither team could break the deadlock. The nearest as the match drew a to a close was a throw by Trapnell. His long throw went into a crowded box but in the resulting scramble keeper Eyres came out with the ball.

Andover edged the match and could have won but for the excellence of saves from keeper Eyres. So, two points dropped for the home faithful.