Andover Town 3–2 Paulsgrove

Starting life for the first time, in the Hampshire Premier League, Town faced Paulsgrove on a warm and sunny afternoon at the Portway. A crushing blow even before the season started when skipper Owen Trapnell ruptured his Achilles tendon in last week’s pre-season against Lymington, keeping him out of action for at least six months

Andover fielded several new signings and started out on the front foot determined to begin the season strongly. Strange to see the game starting without official linesmen which apparently is the norm in this league. Both teams opened quite brightly with crisp interpassing and frequent end to end play. But in the 17th minute Paulsgrove scored when a deep cross from the right was met by Petrov who headed home powerfully to make the score 1-0. Andover’s number Ryan Morgans was featuring more and more as the half progressed and on the 24th minute he hit a terrific volley from inside the box which looked like a certain goal until it hit the keeper from point blank range who somehow scrambled the ball away. Town continued to press and got their reward in the 37th minute when Ryan Morgans turned in a cross from the left to make the score 1-1. This was the score at half time and Andover hoped that they would not come to rue the several good missed chances which they fashioned towards the end of the first half.

And the second half started with another great chance in the 47th minute when Morgans again brought off a fine save from the Paulsgrove keeper. Town were increasingly dominant as the half progressed but were undone by a calamitous keeper error in the 64th minute when an attempt to play the ball short to the edge of the area was nicked by the Paulsgrove's Fairweather who calmy stroked it into an empty net to make the score 2-1. Town fought back immediately and in the 67th minute a superb cross by Morgans was met on the full in the 6 yard box by J J Budden and thrashed the ball into the net to equalise and make the score 2-2. With 20 minutes left Andover were looking dominant and it was no surprise when they scored again in the 78th minute. Ryan Morgans put the seal on an excellent performance when he turned sharply in the box and slid the ball home to make the score 3-2. Town managed out the second half well and kept good control of the ball. Final score 3-2 to the home side.

Always good to start the season off with a win and it is too early yet to rate the strength of the opposition but as the old cliché goes a win is a win. Next match is on Tuesday August 6th kick off 7.45p at Portway against Bishop Waltham Dynamos.