Andover Town1–0○Bournemouth Sports

Back to normal .......

It’s been a while since my fingers have rattled the keyboard. Harmony once more reigns in the Jones household with my promotion once again to Friday evening cook. Albeit it was only pizza and garlic bread with a close eye kept on me by the wife/editor, fire extinguisher in hand and the fire brigade on speed dial. All passed off without incident and trust may be slightly restored after I replace the extractor hood. Chief of bed security Shadow (aka Jobless) received her first pay-packet and promptly spent it all on catnip. Sometimes I just want to give up.

Another cup game. With Saturday shop done, elevensies had, a 10 minute relax and it was lunch, quickly assemble all the goods for what was looking to be a cold, warm, cold day for a glorious cup game, with the cold and fog lifting the sun coming out but as the afternoon losing its light cold would once again creep in. With 10 minutes to pick up, Jobless decides it’s time to sit on my lap, well you just can‘t disturb a cat it’s the law, lucky for me she decided my wife had treats and hunger was a driver. A rush out the door to meet Alan of the Blue Army and we were away. Greetings given to Gary the Gateman nice to have you back a swift trip to visit Pas the Barman picking up Bob on the way for pre match refreshments, drop in to see the man in the middle for the team sheets, write the teams on the board. With seconds to spare we made it round to take our places at the Bank End For what would another epic cup game, if the previous cup games were anything to go by it was going to an epic game. Well it could have been epic kick-off taken and the game fizzled out nothing happened neither team could get into the others 18 yard box lots of passes going astray neither team able to find an opening. On 30 minutes Luke Holden had a go from the middle outside the box which was bang on target until the ball left his foot which sent the ball over the goal, over the netting, over the fence and on its way to Weyhill. With our chance had, it was time for Bournemouth Sports to show us what it was all about with a lovely cross shot which sent Lewis Rothnie scampering to the far side of the 6 yard box for a dramatic catch. And that was that 10 minutes later the ref blew for half time to a sigh of relief all around the ground.

Half time nil-nil after this season we’ll take that. With a quick roll around to the Main Stand and few words with Bill and Graham Cousins who I think were placing wagers on how short the match report was going to be. I was stopped by Bob to enquire if refreshments would be required cheers Bob. Onward to the Shed End and we had picked up Gary the Gateman. With Alan breaking out the Haribo kick off ensued Andover looked the brighter although again not producing partly probably due to the amount of moisture on the pitch, the passes if slightly over hit would just carry on generally out of play. Andover were moving the ball side to side to play down the wings after probably a frustrating 20 minutes for players and fans alike we finally got the down the left and across maybe some would say it was a nothing incident the keeper went up caught the ball at the same time as a cannonball in the shape of Luke Holden came flying in, when the dust settled and the players untangled hands shook play resumed. Whether this incident was to play on the keepers mind we’ll never know. But what was to happen 10 minutes later made think it had. Andover changed tactics and started trying to put the ball over the top of Bournemouth Sports defence with their number 4 doing a good job of mopping up in conjunction with their keeper until the 4th try. The number 4 caught out, the ever chasing Luke Holden bore down on the keeper and at this point there is absolute no chance of Luke winning the race, keepers got this easy. Whether the keeper looked up and saw Luke bearing down like runaway train with all lights on and the horn blaring and up for a game of chicken or it was a bobble (not with our groundsman-the Ed) we will never know, somehow the keeper failed to make proper contact skewing the ball off his foot. The keeper was facing the wrong way and wrong footed, Luke Holden ran round him and casually stroked the all in the net. One-nil it was after some celebrations with the crowd (cheers Luke) and then the team it was time to kick off 15 minutes left. I would like to say we kept it tight no mistakes saw the game out, but no of course not. Andover attacked again possibly sensing blood a cross found the keeper who managed to spill the ball into the path of Nathan Lunness shot once and the keeper done enough, got the rebound shot again hit the upright flew across the goal mouth for Bournemouth to clear. The town were now full of confidence as the ball once more was crossed in Ollie Paris on the far side between the post and six yard box headed the ball goalward from the acute angle only to see the ball hit every post and some that don’t exist only to refuse to cross the line and go out for a goal kick. Knowing Andover this season despite being one-nil up and maybe 5 minutes to go this would be going to penalties. Bournemouth could feel that was our chances of gaining a second gone and started to attack, a nice bit of shepherding by Sam Scanellie saw off one their attacks. Then the unthinkable happened we conceded a penalty who it was no idea by this time the fog was rolling back in and darkness descending it was hard to tell who or why. After all the general penalty hoo-ha the ball lined up and struck looked good trouble is our keeper Lewis Rothnie thought different and caught it clean. Lads concentrate now 2 corners with bodies on the line and goal mouth melee and still Bournemouth couldn’t net. With those chances gone and a big clearance Andover managed to restore some shape back and snuff out any further Bournemouth resistance. The ref finally blew for full time and Town are en route to Wembley.

Well my good friends a frantic last 20 saw a good result. One-nil to the Town.

Man of the Match chosen by Gary the Gateman and Blue Army Alan is Andover’s Number 1 Lewis Rothnie good work fella.

Thanks for reading.

Thanks to wife for editing

See you all next week for the Old Test Derby.

Martyn Jones