Andover Town 0–2 Liphook United

Permutations, Permutations

With dinner lovingly placed in the oven (more thrown in Ed.), I write this part some 3 hours before kick-off (well get you on the ball for once Ed.). After a quick shifty of the weekend results at work and finding out Liphook had suddenly turned into Barcelona on Saturday, the mind started on the old permutations. It doesn’t look good we need to turn into Barcelona, while Liphook and Stockbridge turn into Leicester. 8 points the gap win tonight over Liphook and things might look better. It my faithful readers is and I quote “squeaky bum time” so let’s hope for the best. No Blue Army Alan as on his holidays down Weymouth all thought he is planning on seeing the noisy neighbours down at Portland. So, after the disaster at the nags last Friday with Jobless’ treat money things had been a little tense between us, a quick delve down the back of sofa found enough to buy a small packet until payday when normalcy (in this house?-Ed,) will return. Inland Weather Forecast for The Portway---Bright and Sunny But Best Take Big Coat

After a quick chat to Gary the Gateman to catch up with idle gossip it was off to see Pas the Barman at The Bar of Dreams to be informed there was 2 refreshments left if I would be pleased to see his good self at halftime, nice one Pas! With the team board up and rewritten By Messer Owen Trapnell then sorted out again, it was time to roll round to The Bank End. With Sam Scanelli out after Saturday’s collision, it was down to Dan Grinham to win the toss and change ends, Big Chris explained he asked as the sun was low in his eyes so a walk round to The Alan Mussell Shed End followed.

Kick off ensued with an early battle for 5 mins until the game settled down to the usual play of The Town being penned down in their own half. The visitors Liphook although having the majority of play seemed to be shot shy unless it was off target, twice in succession Big Chris was scampering to retrieve the ball from the Bank End. 20 mins in saw myself joined by Gary the Gateman just in time for the visitor’s first corner a well worked routine with the ball falling to past the far post and popped back in again causing a few palpitations in the home crowd, this would have be kept an eye on. Town cleared and tried to move the ball up field Liphook were beginning to find their stride and were snuffing out The Towns moves. Corner number 2 for Liphook saw a pass to the near post causing more concern with a well struck ball finding Big Chris more than good for it. Nil nil we were in the game but were on shaky ground. Another corner, another ball past the back post and played in cleared again for the ball to come back and put out for corner number 4 well no guessing past the back post played goalwards and into the net. 1 nil Liphook. Town kicked and immediately found themselves under pressure in their own half although not around our box. On 42 mins Town broke and Jake Parton flashed the ball across the box with the ball begging for a touch no one was there and it skimmed the post on the way through. 3 mins later the ref blew for half time.

A quick visit to Pas for the last refreshment of the season and onwards to The Main Stand a few words with Graham Cousins and back round to The Bank End. Kick off found us joined by Martina who mentioned it was like old times, aye my red wine gum

count can attest to that. Town, like Saturday, came out with a bit more spirit and we saw a bit of the ball although Town couldn’t seem to get the run of the ball in an attack, Josh Bertie passed when probably should have shot, crosses went over everyone time and again. Suddenly the visitors broke and a scrappy shot saw us 2 nil down. Well, we haven’t been here before. Town moved forward and gained a free kick in line with 6 yard box you’re set, we’re set everyone set Josh whip the perfect ball in from 3 yards out Nathan Lunness headed the ball home with enough force blow through the net and dent the perimeter fence….. well everyone was set apart from the ref who blew up and ruled it null and void. Looks of bemusement from all including the visitors and

then words were spoken best not printable. The free kick retaken and naught came of it. Play resumed 5 mins later Nathan struck one from outside the box just over the bar. Towards the end Son of Crouch came off with a kick to the knee and that was about it. The ref blew. 2-nil to Liphook it was. We have 4 games left, a loss or draw this weekend will see us out of this division.

Well thank you all for reading if you got this far. Thank you Editor for trying to make me look good.

See you all at Whitehill & Borden

Martyn