Andover Town 0–5 Clanfield

After what felt like weeks of torrential rainfall a couple of dry days made it possible for the visit of league newcomers Clanfield to go ahead. The teams have never met before and despite Clanfield’s lowly league position a tough encounter promised. Today November 11th is Armistice Day and like every other game in the country both teams stood around the centre circle to respectfully observe a minute’s silence.

Both teams started quite brightly essentially with a battle for midfield supremacy. No chances for either team in the first quarter but Clanfield broke the deadlock in the 20th minute when Harvey Cooper adroitly turned a left wing cross into the net to make the score 1-0 to the visitors. Town were finding it difficult to develop any form of cohesion and it was getting more and more difficult to stop the visitors who not surprisingly added a second goal in the 40th minute from number 7 Callum Reeves. Half time score 0-2 and as the game wore on Andover looked less and less threatening and less and less likely to score. Sadly after the last 2 matches resulting in wins for Town that did not seem likely after their first half performance.

The second half continued with Clanfield again dominating and their third goal arrived in the 50th minute from number 9 Fred Penfold. At this stage Andover hadn’t had a single shot on goal, their midfield was being overrun and the defence were having difficulty in stopping the opposition. And in the 70th minute Davidson -Solar scored to make the score 0-4 to Clanfield and starkly illustrate the difference between the two teams all over the pitch. By this time Town were really dejected and not surprisingly Danny Penfold rounded off the scoring with a 5th goal in the 85th minute to make the final score 0-5 to the visitors.

So another chastening defeat by a team towards the foot of the table. Attempting to understand why these results are far too frequent this season is not difficult. The players demonstrate effort and commitment but the plain truth is that are just not good enough to compete at this level. Relegation sadly looms.