Andover Town3–2○Fleetlands

Andover Town welcomed league newcomers Fleetlands to the Portway on a chilly blustery October afternoon. A game which saw skipper Brendan Holmes make his 174th appearance, the highest ever number of matches for Andover. Before the kick off Nick Spencer the Wessex league chairman presented Alan Mussell with the award for the August team of the month in Division 1. An unbeaten start to the season for Andover with 4 wins and a draw in the league and 2 cup victories. Town were hoping to end their recent run of 3 defeats albeit in cup competitions against a team who have started solidly in the league and now sit comfortably in mid-table. A bad run of injuries continued with defensive stalwart Owen Trapnell now sidelined for at least 6 weeks after suffering a dislocated shoulder and a broken wrist in the cup match against Laverstock.

Fleetlands were looking sharp right from the off and almost scored in the 3rd minute when a great chance saw them presented with an open goal but their striker's header luckily flew over the bar. More injury worries followed though when in the 11th minute leading scorer Ryan Griffiths sustained a very nasty looking knee injury which forced him off. He had to be carried off the pitch clearly in obvious distress. Matty Morris came on for Griffiths and started brightly. But Fleetlands looked increasingly like breaking the deadlock which they did in the 21st minute putting Jamie Wrapson through for him to slide the ball into the net from 10 yards out.. Andover urgently needed to stem the tide and they did so magnificently in the 27th minute when David Gerrard beat a couple of defenders on the right edge of the penalty area and fired in an unstoppable 25 yarder into the top right corner. Definitely a contender for goal of the season. So 1-1 on the half hour with Fleetlands definitely missing a couple of relatively easy chances. It was no surprise then when they scored their second in the 39th minute with a neat turn in the penalty area by full back Jack Perrier who slotted home. After that Fleetlands could have easily added another couple of goals with the chances they created. It looked like they would be going in at half time with a fairly comfortable 2-1 lead but the odds certainly swung in Andover's favour when the opposition keeper was sent off in the 42nd minute for coming out of his area and denying a clear goal scoring opportunity. As half time approached and with a man down would Fleetlands in the second half come to rue missing some of the several chances which they had created.

The second half started with Andover keen to capitalise on their numerical advantage but equally Fleetlands were anxious to stifle the play as much as possible and limit all goal scoring opportunities. The half proceeded

uneventfully until in a real goal mouth scramble in the 67th minute Harrison

Hale stabbed the ball into the net from close range. Perhaps the 10 men were tiring but Town grew more and more into the game and spent long periods of time in the opposition's half. The continuing pressure paid off in the 76th minute when skipper Brendan Holmes, maybe to celebrate his 174th appearance, converted from close range thereby putting Andover in the lead for the first time in the match. Determined to hold onto their lead Town carefully controlled the remaining ten minutes or so to finish 3-2 winners. Not a game which was easy on the eye but a much better second half performance which ensured that Town maintained their top 3 position in the league.

The next match is on Wednesday October 5th away at Fawley AFC with a 7.45

start.