Andover Town3–4○Liphook United

With two league matches remaining, on a sunlit day at the Portway, Andover Town entertained Liphook United in a must win for the home side to have a chance of a fourth-place finish in the league, giving them an outside chance of promotion provided they could also win next Tuesday. The team included Malachi Johnson making his 101st appearance for the club.

The opening exchanges were fairly even the best chance fell to Town with Johnson through on goal but a very good tackle prevented him scoring. On 15 minutes some good build up by Town with the ball in the penalty box Ryan Morgans fired in the opening goal. Following the goal, Town now were on top and a few chances went wide. Town were awarded a free kick from outside the box and Morgans took the kick which was goal bound but the Liphook keeper made a fine save. Liphook were trying to press hard for the equaliser but couldn’t find a way through. However, just before half-time a cross on the right by the visitor’s winger the ball seemed destined to go wide but the Town defender under pressure from the Liphook striker deflected it into his own goal to give Liphook the equaliser. Overall Town had the edge on the first half.

The second half started with Town pressing but unable to turn their efforts into goals. The visitors had a clear-cut chance after breaking out of defence but a poor finish with the goal at their mercy. Town continued to press but they couldn’t find a way through the packed Liphook defence. Then with 63 minutes gone, the visitors were awarded a free kick and the resulting kick the ball was struck through the defence to give them the lead. This now put Town on the back foot and a few minutes later things got worse for Town. Town’s midfield lost possession and Liphook took advantage of the town’s stretched defence to extend their lead to 3-1. A glimmer of light for town with 74 minutes gone, substitute Dean Smith scored after some good play by Town. The home side continued to press but they couldn’t find a way through the packed Liphook defence. The visitors were a constant threat with their counter attacks out of defence giving Town’s defence a tough time. One of these breaks saw a fierce shot on target but a fine save by Chris Redshaw putting the ball over bar for a corner. With minutes remaining of the match, Liphook put the game out of Town’s reach with goal making it 4-2. Into the early minutes of the extra time Town did score through Sanjay Samunda but it was all too late.

So, a big disappointed for the home supporters. Town at times gave the ball away too easily and their attack struggled to get through the Liphook defence. Credit to Liphook who took their chances. With one match left, win or lose in their last match with Whitehill & Bordon, Town are set in 6th place in the league. Promotion is now a no-go.