Broughton 3–0 Andover Town

Plain and simple it’s cursed

Tuesday rolled around for another game and second in our sequence of four away days to finish the season before the cup final in Portsmouth. A quick shifty to Tesco for collection of new glasses (perhaps you might be able to find stuff now?-Ed.) home for tea then onward to Broughton not forgetting a couple of head strokes for Jobless. Inland Weather Forecast--- Sun, Strong Wind, Becoming Cool – Best take medium coat.

Pitch Condition--- Bone Dry Dust Bowl Best No Sliding Tackles. After arriving in the official match day parking a game of “where’s the ground” ensued again being light on numbers just my good self with Blue Army Alan sill medically unfit I was all at sea after

following some old boys who disappeared, only the playground and allotments were seen to keep me company. A quick google map found me on the right path and the pitch. With The Boys in Blue warming up …. Wait what ? For the love of Moses’ sandals really we are in the infamous Black & White kit noooo . Why, why, why, why I know it, Blue Army Alan knows it and even the Editor knows it, the kit looks really good but it’s cursed. Never won in it, never look like we’re going to win in it, best we’ve had in 3 years is a point, time to cut our losses with this kit.

So, things weren’t looking good. Town kicked off playing with the sun in their eyes and a swirling wind against them, normally a sure recipe for disaster but no Town found a bit of rhythm and moved forward with purpose the first shot to us Josh Bertie sending the ball across the goal at an angle and past the far post, next was Malachai with a tame shot caught all sorts of wrong and wide of the post. What the heck 10 mins in The Town were off the leash a curly from Josh bringing a smart save out of the host’s keeper, Owen from near the half way line just over, a returning Brendan Holmes with a vicious low drive just past the post, Josh hits the bar from distance, pah we even managed a couple of corners. The Town faithful got quietly confident cursed shirt be damned. Then on 40 minutes (really ?-Ed) yep, the host scrambled forward in their first attack and from outside the box a low drive saw the ball pass Big Chris into the corner 1 nil the host. How can this be we must have eight shots, and they score with their first shot. 5 mins later the half was over. The Town faithful encouraged the boys as they walked past us to the Changing rooms not too dispirited, we still believed. Battle resumed but something had changed in The Town ranks, the heads had dropped right from the off it was noticeable yes they battled but it was a disjointed display best summed up by Brendan’s complete missed kick shot that bobbled out of play corners and crosses were either not met or went wildly over. The hosts gathered two more shots resulting in two more goals both breakaways leaving a single defender isolated and Big Chris no chance. 3 nil to the hosts and was relief when the ref blew full time.

Well sorry it’s sort but thanks for reading this painful report.

Up next is The Old Test Derby.

Thanks as always to the Editor for trying to make me look good.

Martyn