Andover Town1–2○Fawley AFC

Before our match report we want to say .......

Ben Emans was taken to hospital with a broken Tibia and Fibia. He under goes surgery on Monday ...

The club and everyone send best wishes Ben for a speedy recovery !!

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This season’s finale at Portway saw Jenny Mussell and family (pictured) make a presentation to skipper Brendan Holmes to mark his 200th appearance for the club. The teams came out in warm spring sunshine and the pitch looked in excellent condition for what would no doubt be a close encounter. Town lost the reverse fixture in October 1-2. Stadium announcer Graham Cousins had a milestone birthday in the week and recalled that he and Alan had been watching and involved in Andover Town for the last 60 years – quite a record. Town fielded a new forward player in Caleb Birmingham who formed the striking partnership with Jorde Rodiguez making his fourth appearance.

The game started quite cagily with both teams trying to settle and move the ball about with conviction. Slowly Town were growing into the game and in the 27th minute a cross from Ben Emans found debutant Caleb Birmingham in the six yard area and he coolly slotted home to make the score 1-0. Andover were definitely on top as the half progressed and were looking very comfortable on the ball. So a real surprise when on the stroke of half time a mix up in the penalty area enabled Fawley number 9 Knight to score to make the half time score 1-1 which definitely did not match the first half balance of play.

The second half started breezily for Town but in the 51st minute a totally innocuous coming together between Ben Emans and the Fawley keeper saw Ben fall to the ground in obvious agony. The concern from all the players on both sides, from the officials and the touchline staff was palpable. Clearly this was a very very serious injury and indeed the game was halted for 50 minutes. Ben was treated by both physios, an ambulance arrived very quickly and after another long delay he was stretchered on to the ambulance and taken to hospital. Sadly news from the hospital was the worse possible. Ben’s tibia and fibula were both broken and he was to have surgery on Sunday morning.

The game continued and both teams settled down quite quickly. Andover certainly upped the anti and were pushing hard for the second goal with wave after wave of attacks. They hit the crossbar twice in quick succession and it was surely only a matter of time before they scored again to reflect the dominance they now had. But the fickle finger of fate was to prove otherwise and totally against the run of ball in the 87th minute a free kick from Fawley on the edge of the area was turned in by substitute Watkins to make the score 2-1. No time at all for Town to equalize so sadly the score ended with a 2-1 victory to Fawley.

In a sense the scoreline had little relevance because of the awful injury to Ben Emans who had been in excellent form for Town since the turn of the year. Let us all hope that the surgery goes well, let us all wish Ben well and fervently hope that he can get back onto the field as soon as possible next season.