Andover Town2–1BTC Southampton

After a very poor season Town finally gained a trophy. Some would say "not a major trophy" but it is an acheivement nevertheless. Congratualtions to the team well deserved !!

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Our usual reporter is on holiday so we don't have a full match report ... However, we have a brief one courtesy of 'Those White Lines' .............

MATCHDAY George Mason Memorial Shield FINAL

BTC began brightly and opened the scoring after only four minutes, Plunkett beating the offside trap and providing a good finish. The Blues came back and Parton, who was a thorn in BTC's side all afternoon, shot over the bar and then forced Wride into a good block. From the corner Lunness headed wide. A BTC shot was then not cleared and Moulsdale's effort was saved by Redshaw. On 13 mins a cross from the right came all the way across to Jake Parton, unmarked at the far post, and he stabbed in for the equaliser. BTC came back and Moulsdale headed just over, and Redshaw then had to come out quickly to clear before Johnson. Both teams battled for advantage in midfield and the only other chance of the half was a headed by Johnson from a header, over, so it was HT 1-1.

After the restart the Blues started to find space behind the BTC back four and looked more dangerous. The ball was won and Parton was set up for a shot, just wide. A through ball saw Johnson challenge and he, Wride, and a covering defender went down in a heap, luckily all were OK. BTC then had a decent shout for a penalty when Plunkett went down under a challenge from the keeper, but the ref was in a good position to decide it wasn't. On 64 mins excellent work on the right saw a cross which saw Parton get the better of two defenders and the keeper to bundle the ball in and give Andover the lead for the first time. The Blues continued to look strong, and Trapnell headed over from a free-kick, Lunness had a header saved, and a great cross by Parton was just of the reach of Johnson. As BTC pressed for the equaliser, their opponents held firm and should have wrapped the game up in injury time as a free-kick fell to Jake Parton three yards out but he blasted over; he then had a powerful shot not far wide. Some consolation for Andover after a disappointing league season, and this may be the encouragement they need to mount a comeback next year. BTC have had an excellent first season in Division 1 since coming in from the Southampton League, as well as reaching this final.