Andover Town1–2○Crofton Saints

Its been a long 2 weeks for me without seeing the finest team in the country. Visits to both family and friends both pre-xmas visits one which include a soirée into Bath on a Saturday afternoon with the addition of an England A international made the city centre very tight to maneuver around to the point that refreshments were needed which is a whole other story. So with this sequence of 5 home games on the bounce, and I’m not saying you should but if someone says would you like to shopping in say Basingstoke Saturday afternoon you could politely apologize and state you are visiting Family and Friends. Little do they know it’s the ATFC Family and Friends. So what has happened since I last scribed well it was decided by my wife and her doctor that I am now diabetic how I do not know I have not a seen a doctor or been tested, the answer was simple - the wife’s doctor said it was simpler for me to cook one diabetic meal for 2 rather than 2 sperate meals, so here we are. While discussing the finer points of me missing out on apple pie with

cream, ice-cream and custard, Chief Bed Security Officer Shadow decided to put her paw in and after a quick 10 second soul stare it was decided she was not diabetic and why aren’t you giving me treats? One day I might move up the totem pole. So Saturday rolled around a late start saw us shimmy round doing the shop and a quick sprint pass all the Xmas luxuries, back home, wrap up parcels, down the post office to send, make lunch, draw breath, scratch Shadow on the head and onwards to pick up Alan of the once massed ranks of the Blue Army.

These 2 o’clock kick-offs keeps you on your toes. After sorting out refreshments (thanks for getting the Guiness zero in Pas) and scribbling the teams on the board the teams were coming out we had just enough time for a speed walk round to the bank end. A quick size up once again found us up against a sizeable outfit with the weather being big coat, brolly and scuba gear - this would be a proper game to practice those entertaining sliding tackles. With the handshakes done kick off ensued, quickly followed by the first goal to Crofton Saints. The game had not yet settled and yet we were 1-nil down if we get relegated this will be the story of our season (shut up Martyn you doom merchant and get on with the report Ed.). After kick off again Andover started playing some nice football despite the constant rain, with Henrik, Luke and Jake looking a very useful attack, constant running and passing, tracking back when the ball was lost, one attack gave us a corner, and I will praise the coaching staff here we look a lot better at corners swung over by Henrik straight to where a ball should be delivered straight on to the head of Nathan Lunness. 1-1 with barely 8 minutes on the clock well give us time to breathe please and the Town was back in this. At this point in the game I was thinking yes we are on for 8 or 9 goals and a close entertaining game. Crofton kicked off and play resumed with both teams putting a shift in due to the conditions. Twice Luke was clean though with a ball over the top only to be flagged off side, a lovely cross by Henrick was missed by everyone only for Jake to retrieve the ball, smash the ball low towards the near post, the Crofton keeper saved but the ball skidded out of his hands like an eel for a corner. The resulting corner saw Crofton break with Sam Sanellie making one of his as always goal saving clearances on the edge of the box. The ball popped out towards the semi-circle a 50/50 challenge almost turned into handbags, Henrik stepped in and stopped it and the ref decided to speak to each player. What was said we don’t know, how long it went on for, well Fergie time should cover that….maybe. Play resumed with an overhit free kick for Crofton and out of play. The goal kick taken, the launch forward, a game of head tennis ensued the ball finally coming down for the midfield battle when the ref blew what for was beyond the mystification of both the blue army and when asked the Crofton keeper. Another wasted free kick for Crofton and Andover were on the attack to be turned over each team was battling hard in midfield and was a good contest with chances being few and far between, crosses just not reaching and shots blocked Henrik worked himself into a good position only to see his shot well smothered. A nice touch was Luke sending his man the wrong way and sprawling on his back into what looked like a small duck pond forming on the pitch. A little interlude saw Owen’s mum come round with for a chat and offering gingerbread men for our consumption (thank you very much) . We were now down to Fergie time in the first half and saying take 1-1, we looking good go in regroup for the second half when Crofton won another freekick deep inside our half near the touchline, the ball kicked low across our box passed our defence for Crofton’s Rudland to clean up. 30 seconds later ref blows for half-time and we are 2-1 down.

A stroll towards the Shed End saw me pop into the main stand and a few words with club Legend Graham Cousins. Thank you for the support and pointers, still feels like I’m sinking sometimes. It was disappointing going in 2-1 down but we looked good and competitive so I wasn’t too worried for once. A few words with our cameraman James Chalwood (top work) and we were away, a good break and fancy footwork saw Malachi in the clear only to hit his shot at the keeper, it would now be a long time until we saw the ball again near the Crofton goal. Crofton really did pressure us although they rarely seemed to threaten, Town just couldn’t seem to get their rhythm going after the break. Crofton left their shooting boots in the changing room even after we gifted the 2 open goals to shoot at, Crofton failed as the half wore on it looked unlikely anyone was going to score, when Town made a rare foray into the Crofton half and a lovely cross skimmed off a Town head at the wrong angle to draw level it looked like that prediction was about right. And so it turned out as the game fizzled to a close at 2-1.

We’ll we move on next Saturday is a new game. As always thanks to my wife for correcting all my mistakes. Thank you for putting up with these match reports if you got this far.

See you next Saturday as Friends and Family.

Martyn