Andover Town 3–1 Hythe & Dibden

Andover Town convincingly beat table toppers Hythe and Dibden 3-1 on a rainy day at the Portway. The home side turned the form guide on its head with a display that smothered the league leaders and sent the home fans in to ecstasy. Coming in to the game after conceding a late winner against their local rivals, Andover New street, few would have given the home side much hope against a team playing the best football of all in the league.

The opening start to the game certainly suggested the visitors were in for a straightforward victory, earning a number of dangerous set pieces within the first few minutes that had the home side on the back foot immediately. After little more than 5 minutes, Sam Woodward raced on to a through ball and lobbed the advancing Tasker after the Andover defence got caught square footed. That put Hythe one up and several chances came after that, again, the ball over the top causing Andover fullbacks numerous problems. It seemed the home side were showing Hythe too much respect, allowing them too much time on the ball and it seemed like Andover could be on the end of a heavy defeat. However, the game changed after 15 minutes, Harrison Hale closing down an attempted pass out from Grant in the Hythe goal, rounding the keeper and shooting in to the far corner to equalise. After that point, Andover pressed with more intent, gave Hythe little time on the ball and grew in to the game. The returning Pride Kayima poses problems on Andover’s right whilst Zac Hine’s workfare meant he was a constant nuisance on the left. At half time, both sides went in level.

Andover Town 1 - 1 Hythe & Dibden

With many expecting an onslaught in the second half from Hythe, it couldn’t have been further from the truth. Andover dominated the second half creating numerous chances with Aidan O’Kelly getting in behind the Hythe right back after coming on for the injured Pride. With Hythe continuing to try and play out from the back, Hine and Bertie forced an error and with the goal at his mercy, Hine lashed over. Soon after though, man of the match, Harrison Hale, pinched the ball in midfield, and from distance, beat Grant to his left to send the home fans in to raptures. With just 15 minutes remaining, Andover were on the verge of a crucial win. 5 minutes later, Josh Bertie made absolutely sure, slotting home from 10 yards out after good work from Diaz-Benitez. Although Andover couldn’t add to their three goals, the conviction and dominance in the display meant the result was never in doubt. Hythe may reflect on a poor performance but that was down to the industry and quality of Andover’s play who forced errors and created chance after chance. Andover have threatened this kind of performance for a while but had not been able to compile a performance consistent enough over 90 minutes. They now need to build on this and turn in a similar performance against Laverstock who visit the Portway next Saturday.