There was a Quiz Night at the Portway last night, very well organised and attended in which many questions were no doubt asked and the majority probably answered. A few hours earlier the ninety, or on the day nearer one hundred, minutes of football played also posed questions but the answers are undoubtedly more difficult to find - if they are there at all. Questions such as "How on earth did we dominate the first half so completely and not score?". "Why was the second half display so different?" Possibly "Why were so many changes made to the Lions formation after the break?" and if you want a flippant question to finish "Why did the Bracknell keeper choose yesterday to put on such a first class display?". Sadly any answers will not change the end result. In many senses a must-win game that was there for the taking finishing with all three points going to a jubilant opposition who seemed to deal with the situation of being reduced to ten men much better than the home side. They lost a defender whilst the Lions lost a striker, and it is possibly easier to adjust to the loss of the former, but they defended resolutely, got their goals on the break and probably deserved their reward on what was a somewhat chastening afternoon for all connected with the Lions.

The starting line-up showed three changes from Tuesday's defeat at Windsor, two enforced by the end of Gary Middleton's loan spell and injury to Kyle Swayne - Ben Buckland and Ben Wright returning to the side - whilst there was a full debut for Brynley McKie with Tas Roberts dropping to the bench. The Lions kicked off with the strongish wind in their faces and nearly enjoyed a dream start as with less than a minute on the clock Wright took advantage of some poor defending on the left flank only for his shot to strike the outside angle of post and crossbar. Shaun Kerridge rolled the ball some thirty yards with the precision of a snooker player down the white line but McKie's cross was blocked and McCarthy made the first of many fine saves in getting down to block Wright and then beat away another effort from the same player. Bobby Swayne's header was too high from a Mike Turvey cross and full back Swift achieved a similar result from a corner at the other end before Wright and McKie combined cleverly to send Kerridge clear with the cross somehow being scrambled away at the near post. Central defender Kelley fell on the ball rugby style and legitimate and successful attempts to kick the ball left him seemingly in need of the trainer, paramedics, the Samaritans and anyone else prepared to show interest but his next challenge moments later spoke wonders for his powers of recovery. Dave Hook then matched McCarthy by in turn clinging on to a shot that he must have seen very late before the visiting keeper somehow denied Heath after a long ball from Owen Elias created the chance. Still the Lions kept coming forward, winning two corners in quick succession, before McCarthy foiled Wright legitimately and Swift stopped the striker by less than accomplished means thereby earning his first lecture of the afternoon from the referee. The free kick came to nothing and Crittenden then showed the skills that were subsequently to blight the Lion's afternoon by breaking clear and losing out by only inches to Hook and the visitors were beginning to make more of an impact on the game as Hook made an astonishing reflex stop to deny Thomas but Matt Davies came even closer at the other end when his header from a Turvey fee kick bounced off the crossbar to safety. With eight minutes of the half remaining the game looked to have swung in Andover's favour as Swift, whose unequalled command of the Anglo Saxon language makes him less than a favourite anywhere, blatantly elbowed Heath in the face and departed for the dressing rooms. McCarthy foiled Wright again and Heath was too high whilst Thomas, allowed to run on from a suspiciously offside position, produced a cross far beyond the reach of anyone and the half ended with a long lecture for Buck after Wright had been brought down and one imagines both sides headed for the dressing rooms with differing thoughts. Andover wondering how the scoresheet was blank and the visitors probably thanking their luck and their goalkeeper.

With the second half starting rewind three lines above -"......lecture for Buck after Wright had been brought down" since within sixty seconds another clash between the pair saw the instant showing of another red card and the home striker's game was over. From my viewpoint sideways on to the incident there appeared to be minimal if any contact but the referee said afterwards the arm was raised and in the current climate that is enough. When a minute or so later Buck was forced to leave the field to come back on again - another rule someone at the FA no doubt treasures - his wide grin when it was suggested he had "conned" the referee did neither himself or his club any favours. McCarthy tipped a long range McKie effort over the bar but the Lions were busily changing both shape and positions at the back and a long ball forward saw Crittenden get clear as he had done in the opening half but this time the ball was calmly slotted past Hook to give the visitors the lead. To their credit the Lion's response was almost instant, McKie rolling the ball into Bobby Swayne's path on the edge of the area and even McCarthy could get nowhere the midfielder's shot. Very reminiscent of the goal at Bashley last season but sadly without the same outcome. McCarthy hung on to another McKie effort, Nuako survived a penalty area barge on Turvey when the ball was some fifteen feet above them and when Crittenden got away again Kerridge's challenge earned the full back or possibly by now central defender a yellow card. But that turned out to be minor punishment compared with what followed as Thomas rose unchallenged to head the free kick past Hook and three goals inside fifteen minutes had left the visitors in front. The Lion's defence, so positive in the opening forty five minutes, but with everybody now seemingly playing in different positions creaked again as Crittenden this time put the ball the wrong side of the post and appeals for a penalty at the other end were probably rightly turned down on the basis that it was ball to hand. Tas Roberts came on for Heath and Davies was only just too high with a header at the far post from Turvey's corner but Bracknell still looked the more dangerous on the break and a perfectly timed challenge by Kerridge stopped Thomas in his tracks, the big striker then replaced by Ramsay whose speed had been a worry in the earlier encounter a fortnight previously. Nuako, as polished a full back as one will see at this level, showed he has a Doctorate in Time Wasting on his CV and Buck finally collected the caution that had been inevitable all afternoon for felling Roberts, but the home side were now simply pumping the ball forward and, despite Swayne's Herculean efforts to add striking to his midfield role and Glen Damen's non-stop urging, McCarthy was enjoying a much less troubled second forty five minutes in the visiting goal. Kerridge then got away with a challenge that was probably worse than that for which he was cautioned and in quick succession Roberts was denied by McCarthy and a Swayne header was too high before Nuako caused a hiatus by refusing to release the ball for a Lions throw. In fairness to referee Austin he did, unlike some of his ilk, allow for the wasted time (some ten minutes added to the forty five) but this was so blatant it warranted action there and then. Swayne had a shot charged down before the game suffered further delay as the other Swift laid down in the penalty area before eventually being encouraged to leave the field. Stow, another short cameo role this time in place of Buckland ,was too high but the game finished with Hook denying Crittenden again as the striker intelligently used his skill to exploit the space behind the home defence.

That this was a game of two vastly differing halves is without question is without doubt. The question is as to why. Lions had dominated the first half with McKie (especially and the eventual LOCAL man of the match) and Turvey wide on the flanks creating danger at will and a back four looking solid and Bracknell, as their officials conceded afterwards, could have been three down at the break. But in the second half the back four was broken up, the ball was not played wide as it had been before the break and Bracknell, as per the opening paragraph, appeared to adapt the better to playing with ten men. Certainly they found more space than the Lions and ultimately took advantage of same. Possibly the loss of Wright was a greater handicap for the Lions than the loss of a defender for the visitors but you have to make the best of any situation and Bracknell, and Crittenden in particular, did just that on the day. Now Taunton becomes another vital game next Saturday though Uxbridge did lose at Abingdon yesterday!

And finally all credit to Cara for stepping in to the Physio's shoes yesterday - not the easiest of roles to take on by any means!

Team: Hook: Kerridge, Davies, Elias and Buckland: McKie, Damen, Bobby Swayne and Turvey: Heath and Wright.
Subs: May, Bye, Stow, Roberts and Boston.

Match Report by John Gorman

Photos courtesy of Adrian Stones

Match reports may not be copied or adapted without the permission of Andover Football Club

Goalscorers win matches. Simple fact. With apologies to Gary Middleton, Matt Davies and their defensive compatriots everywhere, if a side has a player who can score twenty or more goals a season they are more than halfway to being successful and given that over recent years the Lions have boasted such as Paul Odey, Vinnie Rusher, Andy Forbes and Justin Bennett in their ranks, we can ascribe more than most to that fact. After last night's match Windsor have two players, Matt Seedell (who was possibly suspended and missed the game) and Michael Chennells who both have seventeen goals to their name to date this season and the latter's hat trick only confirms his liking for playing against Andover. He scored at home against us last season, scored at the Portway last month, got a "goal" in the rain abandoned match three weeks ago and settled for three this time around though he may not find other defences as generous as the visitors last night. Lions for all their work and effort simply did not, over the ninety minutes, pose the same threat on goal and that, allied to defensive errors, led to the end result. And all this after thoughts of another wasted journey surfaced when all the lights went out some fifteen minutes before kick-off leaving a fair number of the travelling faithful stranded in the Burger queue but happily all was quickly restored albeit with the kick-off being some twenty minutes late.

With Phil Andrews still suffering from Saturday's injury (no fitness test!) and Ben Wright presumably being saved for Saturday, the only change to the starting line up saw Kyle Swayne take over the number nine shirt with Joe Bye filling the vacant slot on the bench and Lions had an immediate taste of what was to follow for most of the evening. With the opening blast of the referee's whistle still in the air Dave Hook was forced to block a close-range Chennells effort with his legs after a rapid right wing run and cross from Case before home keeper Brown similarly closed down Adam Heath at the other end. Tas Roberts was wide from distance and was then only beaten to a through ball by inches by the keeper before Williams should have done better with a header from a free kick after what seemed an innocuous collision between Owen Elias and an opponent. Brown then loitered over a back pass and was nearly embarrassed by the speed of Roberts but Case was already beginning to enjoy a field day in the wide open spaces of the Andover left side and Elias blocked one cross at the near post and Cooper directed a header from another straight at Hook. Referee Scholes showed an annoying tendency throughout to keep stopping the game for midfield challenges and collisions and it did appear that the free kicks rather leant in the home direction but that played no part in another run and cross from Case that Hook plucked off Chennell's head. With half an hour gone and the game fairly even, though it has to be said that the home side did look the more dangerous, the Lions were punished for what was to some extent an unforced error. Shaun Kerridge tried to "help" a bouncing ball back to his keeper, failed to make sufficient contact and the predatory Chennells lobbed the ball over the stranded Hook to put the home side ahead. Williams then took his turn to utilise the space on the left but Hook was always behind the shot before both sides "suffered" in quick succession from this ludicrous addition to the offside law whereby the Assistant's have to decide whether an attacker is active. (In my long-off playing days I would have benefited enormously since active was not a word usually used to describe my performances but that is another and long forgotten story.) In the two examples in question one attack was halted for offside with the offending forward showing no interest whatsoever in playing the ball whilst in the second two attackers were within three yards of each other and the ball and neither was deemed to be "active". Fortunately no goals came from either incident but the mind occasionally boggles! Hook came out of his area to affect a headed clearance and a long ball from Gary Middleton sent Kyle Swayne away only for the striker to lose out to sheer weight of numbers. Chennells then cleverly extricated himself and the ball from a posse of defenders but Williams put the resulting cross behind and with the half time whistle in the referee's mouth Kerridge and Glen Damen forced a corner but the kick failed to clear the first defender and the Lions headed for the dressing room a goal to the poor.

Having not really carved out a decent chance in the first half the Lions created their best effort yet immediately upon the restart when full back O'Connor made a hash of a bouncing ball, Turvey sped away down the left and into the area but Brown narrowed the angle and beat away the shot before Hook then did the same after Chennells had outpaced everybody at the other end. Damen collected the night's first caution for a foul on Isaacs and a long run by Roberts ended with the shot just curling the wrong side of the post. Hook narrowed the angle to deny Case whilst the Lions continued efforts to play through the middle were largely foundering against the height of Cooper and Butler though they were looking more dangerous than in the opening half. Another Roberts run saw Heath's shot held by Brown and Kerridge collected a caution at the behest of the referee's assistant before the full back then played a major part in what was the best chance of the evening as far as the visitors were concerned. His determination and pace took him to the bye line, the cross to the far post was cleverly laid into Roberts's path by Bobby Swayne but there was one touch too many and the shot was blocked. Lions were enjoying a good spell and Turvey and Heath combined for the latter's shot to be deflected over the bar before Case reminded everyone of the home side's threat with a superb run and cross and Hook then defied Williams twice in rapid succession before Davies's clearance finally ended a long goalmouth scramble. Again the midfield free kicks seemed to have a leaning in one direction though one could not really quibble over the free kick awarded against Turvey for unceremoniously halting Case in his tracks or for the caution that followed. Three games without a single caution and now three in one evening. Case blotted his copybook by going down far too easily under a challenge by the corner flag and Isaacs will surely feel he should have done better with his header from the free kick but with just under ten minutes left the home side to all intents and purposes made the game safe. Lions were in little trouble on the right hand side but when Case dispossessed Elias his speed was too much for the lack of cover, the cross was precise and Chennells claimed his second of the evening at the far post. Dean Stow replaced Kyle Swayne and surprisingly to some perhaps, took up a striking role and Roberts, who had been the Lions main threat most of the evening, created a shooting chance for Turvey but again a defender was in the way. McKie and Bye came on for Kerridge and Bobby Swayne with the former seizing on to a clever pass by Davies inside the full back but Heath and the defender arrived at the ball at the far post at the same time and a corner was the only gain. With the Ten O'Clock News fast approaching, time was as good as up on the field but Chennells still had one card to play as he suddenly burst clear from the centre circle and stroked the ball past the advancing and isolated Hook to put possibly too much icing on the cake for the home side. Victory was deserved but there were not three goals difference between the sides.

After Saturday's victory this was a disappointing evening in many respects though it has to be said that Windsor were a better side than Abingdon. Andover were punished for their mistakes - it happens at this level against the better sides - and on the night the formation that had worked so well three days earlier did not function to the same degree. There seemed to be little width in the attacking sense, especially when compared with the damage Case did as a wide man for the home side, and there was so much space all evening on the left flank for Windsor to exploit - and they took every advantage. Having said that Windsor is not the easiest place to get anything though the parting comment of one spectator that "it is a pity the lights did not go out again" was perhaps over-egging the point. Though on the night he did possibly have something of a point! Now we look forward to Saturday and everything to play for.

Team: Hook: Elias, Davies and Middleton: Kerridge, Roberts, Damen, Bobby Swayne and Turvey: Heath and Kyle Swayne.

Subs: May, Buckland, Stow, Bye and McKie.

Match Report by John Gorman

Match reports may not be copied or adapted without the permission of Andover Football Club

On the weekend when Hollywood gorges itself on self-adulation with the Oscars ceremonies there were a few awards that could have been handed out at the Portway yesterday as the Lions finally claimed their first win of 2008 and the three welcome and important points that accompanied same. Mike Turvey, Adam Heath and Tas Roberts were all in the frame for the award for selfless running and effort, Owen Elias, in his best game for the Lions to date, can claim the most improved player award, Kyle Swayne came off the bench to in a sense qualify as best newcomer for an impressive forty five minutes whilst Glen was in the running for every award going. Mick, in his notes on the forum, described him as superb - in my notes written at the time I used the word immense and I see no reason to change that - and the management team can qualify in show business terms as best Directors for producing a line-up that gave such a committed and attacking display. This well-earned praise has to be tempered however by the fact that yesterday's opponents are on a losing run away from home that even Newcastle are going to be pushed to match (How long Mr Keegan incidentally?) having, according to their Officials, taken only one point from the last twenty seven. But that is possibly carping - any side can only play against the opposition on the day and in truth the Lions probably should have won by a greater scoreline given the chances they created.

Lions made three changes from the draw at Bracknell with Ben Wright failing a pre-match fitness test and Dean Stow and Ben Buckland dropping to the bench meaning recalls for Tas Roberts and Bobby Swayne and a rare outing for Phil Andrews in the number nine shirt, and after trying to work out pre kick-off as to who would play left back, the answer was nobody as they lined up with Elias joining Matt Davies and Gary Middleton as a back three and Shaun Kerridge and Turvey filling the all-important wing back roles. Beechers had an early shot deflected wide as the visitors started the better and the home side adjusted to the system but it soon became apparent that the pace of Roberts and Heath would trouble the Abingdon defence and after one Roberts run led to Heath being crowded out, the little front man combined well with Turvey on the left to create the best chance of the game thus far but when the cross was pulled back Heath was too high from just inside the area. Lions survived a goalmouth scramble following a right wing corner before Roberts scampered away again leading to both he and Heath seeing shots blocked and when a fierce Damen challenge in midfield sent Heath away again Roberts saw his drive well tipped round the post by Farrow. Turvey produced another run down the left again showing just how difficult it is for defenders to dispossess him and a deep Roberts cross had the lanky Farrow struggling somewhat at his far post before full back Weeden, showing good attacking qualities down the left, pulled the ball back for Taylor to beat David Hook but the cross came from behind the line. Heath was then penalised in one of those decisions referees always see the defender's way as Woodley prevented the striker reaching the ball whilst not within playing distance of it himself but when a decision then went the Lions way Farrow unconvincingly juggled Turvey's free kick round the post for a corner. A long run by Posey for the visitors foundered for lack of support from his colleagues and the winger's next involvement was to be "tackled" by the referee as he attempted to take a free kick too quickly. Andrews saw another effort blocked after more good work from Turvey but with half time approaching and the Lions having nothing to show from their efforts, Abingdon reminded everybody of their presence as Hook did very well to deny Posey. The tall McCalmon was pushing his luck with some of his challenges and finally paid the penalty as the seconds tipped away towards the break. His tackle on Turvey on the left touchline led to a free kick, Andrews rolled back the years to produce a superb delivery and Elias's powerful header from some twelve yards out simply flew past the beleaguered Farrow to give the Lions the lead their efforts had more than warranted.

The second half started with Kyle Swayne replacing Andrews who had taken a knock midway through the first half and Organ firing a free kick for the visitors a long way wide of Hook's goal but whereas it had taken the Lions forty four minutes to get on the score sheet before the interval, it was to take only four minutes the second time around. Again it was a challenge on the left touchline that led to the goal with this time Kyle Swayne's free kick being cleverly steered past Farrow at the near post by the incoming Matt Davies. The hefty Woodley deposited Heath into the advertising boards with a challenge that would have been applauded in ice hockey circles but in the footballing sense only earned him a lecture from referee Downey and when the visitors went forward optimistic appeals for a penalty against Middleton went unanswered. Back came the Lions again and with the half little more than ten minutes old, they moved into what has been almost uncharted territory this season. The pace of Heath took him into and across the penalty area, Woodley's long outstretched leg made contact with the player rather than the ball, and Kyle Swayne confidently slotted the penalty past Farrow. The visitors brought on Ryan Brooks and Holden, surprisingly taking off Posey, and Holden found himself immediately in the action on the left but Hook was quickly out to block the shot. Lions in turn bought on Brynley McKie for Heath, the latter rightly applauded for an hour of selfless running, and Middleton somehow threw himself full length to head a cross that was no more than a foot off the ground over his own bar. Davies almost claimed a second goal for himself after another Turvey run - Farrow making the block - and a dipping volley from Elias shaved some paint from the crossbar before Bobby Swayne went even closer in heading a cross from brother Kyle against the same crossbar. Bobby then returned the compliment by instigating a move carried on by Roberts and McKie that ended with Farrow beating Kyle's shot away and when the keeper again saved from the lesser Swayne, in what appeared to be a private battle between the two, it raised memories of similar battles Justin had on occasions with visiting keepers. A mazy run by Roberts in which he seemed to beat most of the defence - some more than once - ended with his shot beating Farrow and the far post by inches and this was to be the winger-cum-midfielder-cum-front man's last involvement as he too was applauded off in giving way to Buckland. Hook went full length to deny McCalmon and Turvey's balance and skill in one run must have left full back Weeden dizzy so many times was he turned. Not for the first time of late, the substitutions seemed to cause a loss of shape and Brooks was too high after finding too much space before Turvey completed another run and shot despite Weeden having a vice-like two handed grip on his shirt for some ten yards but Abingdon did gain some consolation with some four minutes remaining. The ball made its way down the right, the cross was not cleared and Taylor beat Hook from close range to deny the keeper a deserved clean sheet. Referee Downey made his only contentious decision of the afternoon when pulling the Lions back for a free kick when they had three against two in the opposing half and Damen capped his afternoon with a shot that was not too far wide and a clever McKie cross defeated the entire cast in the penalty area to drift out of play before the final whistle confirmed three very welcome, and on the day deserved, points for the Lions.

In mentioning some of the players in the opening paragraph it must also be stressed that this was a concerted team effort with Davies and Middleton combining with Elias to give little away and Hook, probably enjoying one of his quietest afternoons for many a moon, still making one or two vital saves. Bobby, back from his "rest", was always in the thick of things alongside Glen who tackled everything that moved - and everything that moved then tended to stay tackled! Kerridge seems eminently suited to the wing back role having the energy to cover defensive and attacking duties and McKie showed some nice touches in his longest run to date. Mike Turvey claimed the LOCAL sponsored Man of the Match Award - the only "real" award of the afternoon - and for Mick, Phil and Steve the first win will remove something of a dark cloud that has been hanging around for a seemingly long time. Windsor will be more difficult on Tuesday but we acquitted ourselves well in the aborted visit a month or so ago and can surely do so again.

Team: Hook: Elias, Davies and Middleton: Kerridge, Roberts, Damen, Bobby Swayne and Turvey: Andrews and Heath.

Subs: May, Buckland, Stow, Kyle Swayne and McKie.

Match Report by John Gorman

Photos courtesy of Adrian Stones

Match reports may not be copied or adapted without the permission of Andover Football Club

There is a saying in football that there is often a moment in a game when that game is won or lost. Is it possible that yesterday, despite the game tally reaching only two thirds of the season's total - we still have fourteen matches to play -, there was a moment when the season could have been won or lost. In the bright wintry mid-February sunshine of Bracknell with time almost up and both sides nervously clinging on to a share of the points, the home side pumped the ball forward again, substitute Dean Thomas found himself bearing down on goal clear of the defence and was left, arms aloft in astonishment, as Dave Hook somehow got down to his left to push the his shot round the post. The popular goalkeeper has made some astonishing saves throughout the season thus far but if it is over-egging the case to say this one saved the season, it was the important moment of the afternoon as far as the Lions were concerned, gave the Lions a point and more importantly stopped Bracknell taking all three. And all this after some unnecessary melodrama before the start when the match officials became unduly concerned over the playing surface embracing the touchline on the far side of the pitch being too hard and possibly worsening as the game went on, their solution being that they would start the game and take another look at half time. In the event it caused no problems whatsoever and the referee had, by making a mountain out of a molehill, raised the possibility of being left in a rather invidious position had one side been say three goals down by the break!

With Kyle Swayne joining brother Bobby on the suspended list there was a welcome return for Glen Damen in midfield, Dean Stow and Joe Bye swapped places yet again with the former this time in the starting line-up, Adam Heath was preferred to Tas Roberts up front and the game started with Gary Middleton's challenge stopping the speedy Ramsey in his tracks in the opening seconds raising memories of Marlow's Roche and Couch four days earlier. Edwards got away on the left from a suspiciously offside position but the cross was way too deep and referee Smith issued his first lecture of the afternoon after full back Cook stopped Mike Turvey with the ball only vaguely in the vicinity of the challenge. Heath and Ben Wright combined on the left but keeper McCarthy held on to the latter's shot and Lions survived a moment of semi-panic after Hook was put under pressure by an over hit back pass. Bracknell were getting the ball forward long and hard with keeper McCarthy's huge clearances to the fore and one would suggest he did not really need the extra two or three yards he gained on every clearance by delivering same from that distance outside his area. And this with the tacit consent of the referees assistant despite the game-long efforts of the Andover Tannoy Guru to bring his attentions to same!

Ramsay chased one such clearance but could only head the ball into Hook's hands and McCarthy was out quickly to block Turvey at the expense of a corner before Andover created their first real chance. Ben Buckland and Mike Turvey created the space on the left and from the latter's cross Wright's header was only just too high at the far post. Ramsay galloped away again but McClurg could not reach the cross before Turvey provided a shooting chance for Stow but the elevation was too high and in the next attack Lions had seemingly justified appeals for a penalty turned down when Wright was challenged from behind. The referee left the decision to his assistant and the flag stayed down. This led to a mild skirmish involving a number of players which was efficiently and sensibly sorted out by the referee though Shaun Kerridge, who looked the aggrieved party. bore the brunt of the lecture. Wright was brought down again on the edge of the "D" and this time gained the free kick but planted same into the defensive wall and when Lions were awarded another kick a few yards further out, Stow's chip into the box saw Middleton's header blocked. The visitors were now enjoying the better of the game as a generally poor first half in the footballing sense drew to a close and McCarthy was again quickly out to deny Heath before the striker's persistence led to a Stow cross and Wright's header being acrobatically tipped over the bar. The resultant award of a goal kick was a trifle puzzling and the half ended with Hook in action again pushing a shot from Edwards round the post.

With the officials promised half time inspection of the suspect strip of turf no more than perfunctory, Lions started the second half kicking up the slope and Swift, recently signed by the home side from AFC Hayes, showed he had lost none of his excellent command of Anglo Saxon English  with a tirade of abuse at all and sundry after conceding an early free kick from which Middleton's header came back across the face of goal without anybody being able to claim the vital touch. The home side's use of the long ball became even more pronounced down the slope but Matt Davies and Middleton were holding fast and when the deadlock was broken it came from a corner rather than the forward "pass". Ten minutes into the half, the home side won a kick on the left, there was an almighty scramble with ball and players flying everywhere and the Assistant's flag confirmed that at some stage the ball crossed the line. As to how, who or why was impossible to see from the sidelines but after-match discussion saw the goal credited to Ramsay. Some clever footwork by Wright enabled Kerridge to reach the byeline but the cross was blocked by the talented Nuako, another whose footballing skills were rather marred by his vocal attributes. Stow had an effort cleared off the line as Lions sought the equaliser which then came within ten minutes of going behind. A deep Stow corner from the left was headed back across goal by Davies and a further header by Heath at the far post saw the ball nestling in the back of the net and after McCarthy's efforts to convince the referee that as he had missed the cross he was entitled to a free kick (mentor- Jens Lehman) had failed, battle resumed. 

Davies was injured stopping another home attack, happily quickly back after treatment, and a powerful shot by Edwards rebounded to safety off a defender before Turvey seemingly took on most of the home side in a long and mazy run before pulling the ball back to Wright but the shot shaved the wrong side of the post. Bracknell then had their claims for a penalty turned down in an almost exact replica of the challenge on Wright in the first half. Again the referee gave the decision to the assistant, again the flag stayed down and from an admittedly not-in-line viewing angle, it looked as though the Lions were a little lucky. This appeared to rouse the home side and Hook saved well from McClurg as the ball flew through a crowded area before Lewis missed probably the best chance of the half. The burly striker had spent the game thus far acting rather like a poor man's version of the dreaded Mr Nicholls at Uxbridge, plenty of mouth and a penchant for off the ball incidents, but when he found himself clear on goal with only Hook to beat to say the shot was off target would be more than something of an understatement. Roberts came on for Stow and when his pace and trickery won a corner, Damen's header was too high at the far post and after Boston replaced a limping Heath came Hook's save that ensured a point apiece on the day. Probably a fair result in a game in which neither side found it easy to play the ball on the ground and in which the possibility of error was overall inhibiting. For the second game running not a caution offered so plaudits to referee Smith for that though he let a lot go and perhaps was rewarded by the generally good sense of the players. If that was the case may it continue.

The point was probably a better one for the Lions than their hosts from what was not the best game of football seen this season but again there was some merit to be gained. Wright shows every sign of being the cutting edge lacking to date, Turvey again showed his ability on the ball and Heath, as per the last twenty minutes against Marlow, made his mark. Glen bought some organisation to the midfield alongside Stow and Elias, Davies and Middleton dealt with the aerial bombardment, the full backs, after the difficulties against Farnborough and Marlow stood their ground, and to quote a phrase oft used before, Hook was Hook. Enough said. Now Lions have two home Saturday's to come, admittedly with a difficult trip to Windsor sandwiched in between, and more possible points on offer. Six out of the nine would make a huge difference.

Team: Hook: Kerridge, Davies, Middleton and Buckland: Stow, Damen, Elias and Turvey: Wright and Heath.

Subs: May, Bye, McKie, Roberts and Boston.

Match Report by John Gorman

Photos courtesy of Adrian Stones

Match reports may not be copied or adapted without the permission of Andover Football Club

"What a difference a day makes - twenty four little hours" so I believe runs a song from yesteryear. Multiply both halves of the line by three and it perfectly sums up Farnborough on Saturday and Marlow last night in terms of the Lions performance. Whilst admitting that at times the side rode their luck at Cherrywood Road, their effort and commitment earned both that luck and the point but after getting off to the worse possible start last night - two down inside three minutes - there never looked like being the comeback that almost turned the Fleet game around. Marlow were sharper, quicker, played more as a team and always looked the more dangerous in front of goal. In the period between the second and third Marlow goals we gave as good as we got but, Ben Wright apart, never looked like scoring and Kieron Drake, returning to the Portway in yet more different colours, enjoyed a relatively trouble free evening in the visiting goal until the last fifteen minutes.

Lions made two changes in personnel from the Farnborough game with Joe Bye and Dean Stow swapping places again, the latter reverting to the bench which also found room for Steve May as substitute keeper with Steve Boston missing out completely. Bye's free kick in the opening minute was too long but when the Lions were penalised in the centre circle, Marlow hoisted the ball to the far post and Roche, hardly the tallest player around, reacted the quickest to force the ball past David Hook, the goal very much resembling Farnborough's opening effort on Saturday. In less than a minute the visitors doubled their advantage as Roche chased an over-hit corner from the right, turned inside the defender and provided a picture cross that Couch, again not the tallest, headed home at the far post. For a while it was all hands to the pumps as the Lions were in danger of being completely overrun but the hard working Wright and Roberts, the latter, surprisingly to many, confined to a wide right role after two games in a striking role, pulled them forward and Mike Turvey saw a header held at full stretch by Drake from a cross by the little wing man. Ben Buckland and Wright combined cleverly on the left but Kyle Swayne's shot was too high before Marlow turned defence into attack with devastating speed and consequences. Drake, never the happiest with back passes in his Portway days, made something of a fist of dealing with a ball rolled back to him before finally scrambling it away to full back Smillie. The ball was immediately transferred to the speedy Roche who had the entire left hand side of the Lions defensive area to himself and Hook saw the shot go across him for goal number three. This stoked the visitors up again with Roche being denied by an offside flag and his chief partner-in-crime Couch being very well stopped by Kerridge before Wright briefly raised the siege with a shot that was not too far wide of Drake's post. Buckland's last ditch intervention ensured another Roche run and cross inflicted no further damage before Wright bought the Lions forward again. Drake snatched a Roberts cross off Bye's head and a long Wright run led to a corner before the same player was too high in a goalmouth scramble but Marlow again showed their threat as full back Neptune appeared in the home penalty box but fortunately for the Lions the shot was wastefully high. Time for one more run from Roberts but Wright's header from the cross was too close to Drake and it was a somewhat chastened home side that made its way to the no doubt comparative calm of the dressing rooms.

Whether it was a miss-reading of the clock, keenness for the fray or even the possibility of some form of punishment but the home side were back on the field two to three minutes before opponents and officials and after Wright was too high from a Turvey cross, the same two players carved out the best chance of the match thus far combining cleverly in the area but Turvey's shot cleared both Drake and the bar. Stow made an early entrance in place of Kerridge who may have been injured, if not a slightly odd change since so much of the Marlow threat was coming down the other flank, and was quickly in action with a cross that was claimed by Drake, Couch then probably made his only mistake of the evening with a shot that ended in the far reaches of the car park before referee Rushton sensibly sorted out a spat between Drake and Wright that seemed over nothing in particular. McKie came on for Bye and Marlow replaced Stone with Simpson thereby giving the referee's eardrums some relief from the striker's constant whingeing, before a Lions corner produced a goalmouth scramble but no end result. Roche, who gives the impression that he could run a sub ten seconds 100 metres whilst dribbling the ball, got away on the left but was caught and dispossessed by Roberts - not too many players could have achieved that - but after Wright had sent a header wide, Roche struck again. Lions lost the ball in midfield, Coynes pass was quick and incisive and the fleet footed striker raced on to beat Hook and claim his hat trick and Marlow were four goals up with a quarter of the game still to play. Matt Davies briefly deserted his defensive duties for a shot that was deflected narrowly wide with Drake struggling and after Roche had seen a shot blocked he got clear again only to be denied by a fine reflex save from Hook. Adam Heath came on for Kyle Swayne and saw his shot beaten away after Roberts had made the chance and then combined with Stow as Lions finally got on the scoresheet. Stow, playing to all intents and purposes as a right back, latched on to Heath's ball inside the defender and saw his cross side-footed home by Gary Middleton, though what he was doing in the opposing six yard box at the time is open to explanation! Any slight euphoria over the goal was immediately quashed as the irrepressible Roche gave substitute Simpson all the time and space he needed to pick his spot for goal number five. Heath, perhaps with something to prove, was causing problems with his pace and a cross after Wright sent him away was cleared with some difficulty but only to the edge of the area from where Owen Elias despatched the ball low past Drake into the bottom corner of the net. Again Marlow countered immediately with a solo effort from Couch though the ball went in off Matt Davies. I was quite happy to give Couch the goal but the Marlow officials, better placed than me, insisted the ball would have passed the wrong side of the post but for contact with the Lions skipper. Roche then slid the ball past both Hook and the post and Coyne hit the car park as the visitors finished with a flourish and their cheery group of fans behind Hook's goal will have enjoyed the journey back to leafy Buckinghamshire.

For the Lions it is pick-up time again after a very disappointing evening. Leaving aside the talents of Roche and Crouch the visitors ran the midfield, were given too much space on the flanks, especially the Lions left, and Middleton, Davies and Hook were all too often left exposed. The second half substitutions led to some losing of shape with Roberts particularly losing touch with the game in what was now a crowded midfield, McKie saw little of the ball, Turvey on the night could not make the impression he has made in earlier games, and only Heath offered Wright any support in the latter stages with both goals coming after his entry into the fray. Bracknell, on what will not be a pitch conducive to good football, is assuming considerable importance on Saturday and hopefully last night's performance will be out of the system by then.

Team: Hook: Kerridge, Davies, Middleton and Buckland: Roberts, Kyle Swayne, Elias and Bye: Wright and Turvey.

Subs: May. Damen, McKie, Stow and Heath.

Bem Matthews has left us to rejoin Kintbury whilst Rory Anderson has joined Christchurch on dual registration.

Funny Game Football! So started a piece in the Sunday Telegraph this morning and it was what I already had in mind for this epistle. So if it is good enough for the Telegraph it is good enough for here - though any thoughts that the following will be anywhere near as articulate and erudite as that of the Broadsheet should be swiftly cast to one side. So - Funny Game Football. Farnborough, high flying in the League and having won nine of their last ten home games, at one end. Andover, flirting with relegation and lacking points to go with their efforts at the other. A home banker on most coupons so to speak. Yet at the end of ninety minutes Lions had rode their luck, Farnborough were no doubt rueing their wastefulness in front of goal and Ben Wright marked his return to Lions colours with a goal that seemed to be almost a slow-motion replay in normal time - if that makes any sense - leaving the Lions faithful happily splashing their way through the car park puddles en route for the M3 and home.

The Lions team that stepped out into the superb Farnborough arena showed two changes from Tuesday's non-event at Windsor with Gary Middleton and Ben Wright replacing Glen Damen and Steve Boston whilst there was a place on the bench for new boy Brynley McKie, a nineteen year old wide player signed from Horndean in midweek. Bartley, who has caused us enough problems with Didcot already this season, was the first to show but the angle was too tight for the shot and the Lions first attack ended with Tas Roberts being crowded out by a posse of somewhat larger defenders. Wright's first contribution was a caution for a rather injudicious challenge on the half way line before Wheeler, one of two clever and quick wide players on the home side. provided a cross that Doyle headed wide and Matt Davies halted Bartley after a long throw had found the big striker in space. Dean Stow sent a free kick over the bar but the Lions were under pressure as Bartley benefited from a non-existent offside flag only to be denied by Davies and David Hook whilst Richardson headed over twice in quick succession from crosses from Saunders, the other home wide player who was finding a lot of space on the right flank. Linesman and referee then differed over a challenge on the edge of the Lions area with the referee claiming seniority and giving the free kick Andover's way from which Shaun Kerridge got away on the right but both his cross and the return from Stow flashed across the box without contact from either side. Hook moved swiftly to deny Bartley after a fortunate ricochet gave the striker a chance and after Farnborough had appeals for a corner denied, the referee requested the removal of the Boro' Manager from the dugout for voicing his views on the decision though his temper was probably somewhat calmed as the home side immediately took the lead. Wheeler sent a long free kick to the far post and Doyle eventually bundled the ball over the line in something of a scramble and only Hook's quick reactions prevented a second as Saunders was given the freedom of the parish on the right flank and the same player threatened again after a Roberts run was blocked, firstly shooting over and then thumping a header against the bar from Wheeler's cross. But such are the ironies of football that from possibly having a match-winning advantage, Farnborough suddenly found themselves bought back to level terms. Roberts, whose pace was a problem to the tall home defenders all afternoon, got away on the right and did wonders to pull the ball back under pressure, Wright drove his shot into the ground and a neat Stow header sent it past the wrong footed Gray in the home goal. Gray then got away with making something of a fist of a back pass, Kerridge timed a tackle superbly to stop Wheeler and the half time whistle stopped Saunders in full flight on the other flank and the teams departed for the dressing rooms with probably much differing views on the forty five minutes.

The second half started as the first half finished with Saunders bursting forward but Middleton was equal to the challenge and Lions first foray ended with Turvey shooting wide. Bartley's willingness to chase long balls was being matched by the determination of Davies and Middleton and it was the Lions who fashioned the first chance of the half when they opted to keep the ball on the floor. Stow cleverly found Roberts and the striker sent Turvey clear but the wide man probably took one touch too many and was denied by a superbly timed tackle from Woozley. Wheeler produced a good run but a poor shot and Roberts was lectured after a high boot accidentally caught Tabiri on the arm before the Lions survived further when Elias was penalised on the edge of the area only for Saunders to dispatch the free kick into the far blue yonder. Survival was then even tighter when Wheeler's cross was headed back across goal by Oliver and turned in by Bartley but the striker was adjudged offside - he did appear to be behind Hook! - and this was to be the ex-Didcot man's last act of the afternoon as he gave way to Bubb, another earlier tormentor of the Lions when with Burnham. Many of the Farnborough supporters felt the wrong striker had been replaced, given Richardson's wastefulness to date in front of goal, but it obviously acted as a wake-up call for after Roberts had been too high at the other end the big number nine fairly hammered a shot against Hook's post before going one better so to speak as the half reached its midway point. Bubb's dancing white boots found space on the left and his picture cross found Richardson between defenders at the far post and the header gave Hook no chance. Things then looked to have taken an even worse turn for the Lions as Wheeler and Bubb combined, Hook went down at the latter's feet, and referee Martin gave a penalty though sensibly no caution as the area was more than crowded at the time of the offence but Saunders, whose shooting skills were not on par with his wing play, crashed the penalty against the cross bar. Joe Bye came on for Stow and Saunders departed to mull over his miss, replaced by Barima who had scored the injury time winner at Slough on Tuesday, before Turvey collected the second caution of the game for throwing the ball away after the referee stopped play with the advantage clearly in Andover's favour. The referee had a good game overall but this was another decision for my "two wrongs make a right" collection. Turvey's mood would not have been lightened when he was clattered by Rumbold without any reproach for the home defender and Davies moved very swiftly to dispossess Bubb when the latter found too much space before Roberts, who had run his socks off throughout the afternoon, gave way to Adam Heath. The latter was quickly into the action creating a shooting chance for Kyle Swayne but the effort was too high and after Davies had again stopped Richardson, a nice move involving Swayne, Heath and Wright ended with the latter being flagged offside. McKie came on for Turvey, though the tannoy was convinced it was Damen, and the clock was running over as Richardson got away with an awful " non-offside" decision but wasted the chance and Lions won a throw halfway inside the Farnborough half. Kerridge hurled the ball into the area and everything suddenly seemingly went into slow motion as Wright coolly flicked the ball over his shoulder, spun, took one touch and steered the ball past the static Gray as not a defender moved. Whether they felt it was offside or the goalkeeper should have gone for the ball I know not but all credit to Wright for his coolness and skill and with the whistle going seconds later a valuable and in truth unexpected point for the Lions.

Lions will admit that they rode their luck and Farnborough will have felt they deserved all three points but you have to put the ball into the net and on the afternoon they were not very good at that. Given the superb but possibly daunting surroundings, and the fact that Farnborough are a very good side, most teams are going to be on the back foot for most of the time and it is to the Lion's credit that to a man they battled throughout, never gave up, and with the little bit of luck that has deserted them of late eventually coming into play, gained a very valuable point. Given the performance it is perhaps unfair to single out individuals but the back four stuck to their task throughout. Kerridge and Buckland will consider themselves very unlucky if they come across a better pair of wingers this season, Middleton has added calmness and assurance, Hook was Hook and Matt Davies was simply superb. Add to that the willing running and chasing of the midfield and front men, with Roberts to the fore, and it was a display that built on that at Windsor which in turn was just that little bit up on Paulton. The Management trio were obviously delighted with the point, felt that we can play football on the ground with a little more self belief - which is coming - but have to stop giving the ball away.

One point re: Farnborough. Good side who will certainly be there or thereabouts come the season's end but they have used forty eight players so far this season and that sort of turnover usually relates to the other end of the table. Even Glen Howes played seven games for them ! But it seems to work !

Now Marlow on Tuesday - again not easy but the confidence is growing.

Team: Hook: Kerridge, Middleton, Davies and Buckland: Kyle Swayne, Stow, Elias and Turvey: Wright and Roberts.

Subs:- Damen, Bye, McKie, Heath and Boston.

Match Report by John Gorman

Photos courtesy of Adrian Stones

Match reports may not be copied or adapted without the permission of Andover Football Club

Welcome back Ben!

Lions were again forced into changes with Bobby Swayne suspended and Gary Middleton succumbing to flu so Glen Damen partnered Matt Davies in the middle of the defence with Mike Turvey returning in a wide left role whilst Dean Stow and Joe Bye swapped places with the latter dropping to the bench. With the pitch and the elements at loggerheads, Andover found themselves kicking down the slope but into the teeth of a very strong wind and survived a scare in the opening seconds when Chennells, something of a bane as far as the Lions were concerned last season, got away only to pull his shot across the face of the goal before just losing out to Dave Hook as he pursued an underhit back pass. But with only five minutes gone there was joy for the travelling faithful as Stow did the donkey work on the right, Steve Boston helped the ball on and Turvey held off full back Burgess and slotted the ball past Brown into the far corner of the net. Roberts, again using his pace to good effect, sent Buckland free on the left but the cross went behind before Davies did well to reach a dangerous ball from Porter at the other end. Windsor, with the occasionally gale force wind behind them, were enjoying the greater share of possession but the equaliser, when it came after seventeen minutes, was a soft one. Chandiran crossed early from the left into the area between goalkeeper and defence and only Porter moved, diving in at the far post to head the ball past the stranded Hook. Both sides were showing a willingness to go forward and after Kyle Swayne had been crowded out at one end Kerridge had to react quickly to stop Chennells at the other before Hook made an astonishing save from Walters. One recalls a save at Bridgwater earning the admiration of friend and foe alike but this one was probably even better. The ball was struck like a thunderbolt from just outside the area and Hook somehow parried it away from underneath the angle of post and bar. Roberts was halted in full flight by Davies who got a lecture for his pains - referee Belbin did a good job in taking the conditions in account all evening - before Davies nearly sank in the well sanded area after throwing himself full length to head the ball away. One had visions of Pete Tunney heading onto the pitch with a spade rather than the medicine chest!

Hook denied Chennells again after another powerful run by the striker and Roberts just failed to make contact with a Boston cross before Lions looked to be in trouble. A free kick wide on the left and only just inside the Andover half was pumped forward into the box, various bodies went for the ball, various bodies fell over and the referee was seen pointing to the spot. That description is not meant to be critical of the official - I was simply too far away to see what actually happened - but depending on whom one spoke to afterwards from both sides, a different story emerged. But penalty it was and again Hook probably pushed himself even further ahead in the Player of the Year stakes by getting down to parry Seedell's kick at the foot of the post. Stow then nearly embarrassed youthful goalkeeper Brown from distance as the home custodian went walkabout and as the game continued to go from end to end Damen headed a Porter cross to safety over his own crossbar. Clever play by Kyle Swayne and Roberts created a half chance for Boston but Brown somehow scrambled the ball round the post before the wind, which to date had only been carrying low flying aeroplanes from nearby Heathrow in its path, suddenly found some spots of rain as well.

Stow was clattered by Williams, again sensible refereeing with only a lecture for the miscreant, and Lions had loud appeals for a penalty turned down when Elias's shot cannoned to safety off a defender and after referee and assistant had agreed to differ - the referee pointing one way and the flag the other - the respective number fours contested a loose ball with considerable vigour with Glen coming out on top. Nothing new there! Stow had a shot charged down and with the rain now a little harder, an enjoyable forty five minutes came to an end with the Lions more than happy to be on level terms given the difficulty sometimes experienced in simply playing the ball against the wind.

By the time the statutory break was over the rain was of the pouring variety causing the restart to be delayed with the travelling faithful now penned in the main stand listening to Chubby Checker on the tannoy - I am not sure Graham has got that low - but when the pouring turned to cloudburst with puddles everywhere there was no decision left for the referee other than to than to call it a day. A pity in many ways since it was a) an enjoyable game and b) as Mick said afterwards, the pace of Roberts and Turvey with the wind in their favour could well have more than troubled the home defence in the second half but the precipitation that was never " in sight" - it simply arrived - eventually won the day. It was a good performance by the Lions that built on the Paulton display and augurs well for the challenges that still lie ahead - starting at Farnborough on Saturday. One downside of the weather was that the "game" will not count towards Bobby's suspension so three games still to be missed and as the M3 was encountered an hour earlier than expected there was ironically no "precipitation in sight".

Team: Hook: Kerridge, Damen, Davies and Buckland: Kyle Swayne, Stow, Elias and Turvey: Boston and Roberts.

Subs: May, Bye, Heath and Andrews.

Back at the Portway in early November Lions produced a battling performance which, aided at times by some slices of luck, gained a point against Paulton Rovers. On Saturday an equally battling performance saw them fall just short when at times luck deserted them but against that it is probably true to say that the home side had the better of the chances. But it was a case of so near yet so far as regards the pursuit of the elusive win to get the points tally rolling again. Lions of course welcomed Gary Middleton back into the side but were lacking the injured Adam Heath, though he was spotted in the queue at the tea bar, whilst Glen Damen, after limping off on Tuesday, was on the bench alongside Dean Stow which meant places in the starting line up for Kyle Swayne and Tas Roberts.

Lions opened the proceedings kicking down the slope with the cold wind largely in their favour and made the early running as Roberts sent Kyle Swayne clear and Joe Bye was only inches away from the cross at the far post and the next attack ended with possibly justifiable appeals for a penalty that went unanswered after a challenge on the lesser Swayne in the area. Full back Bryant, whose sorties down the right wing were dangerous all afternoon, produced a cross from which Lane's shot was deflected wide and Dave Hook did well to hang on to the corner in a crowded six yard box before the Lions took the lead with only eleven minutes gone. Progress was made down the left, the cross was only cleared to the edge of the area and Roberts fired the ball high into the net from some twenty yards with keeper Dyson totally beaten and the little winger-cum-midfielder-cum-striker had achieved fifty percent of his goal tally for last season with what can only be described as a cracking effort. Dyson was then stranded nearer the touchline than his goal but Boston's effort from a bouncing ball and a very long way out was wide before another bouncing ball caused some controversy at the other end. Bryant, again in an attacking position, had a shot charged down, the ball bounced badly on a pitch showing signs of the ravages of the weather, and a penalty was awarded for handball against Kyle Swayne. Possibly there was a case for ball to hand but the referee saw it otherwise and leading scorer Claridge gave Hook no chance from the spot with worse to follow as Bryant again made the initial ground and the low cross from the right was stabbed home by Claridge for his and his side's second goal in as many minutes.

Roberts, playing up front and troubling the defence with his speed and control, saw an effort bounce away off the keeper's legs and Boston could not get sufficient power behind the rebound before Roberts was blocked again and a Matt Davies effort, from almost the same spot as the Lions' goal had come from, was acrobatically cleared off the line by a defender. Dyson sliced a back pass under pressure from Roberts with the ball going to the safety of the sideline and there were no takers for a Kyle Swayne cross as the visitors sought the equaliser but the talented Ben Cleverly reminded them of the home side's presence with a run and shot that saw Hook at full stretch to save. The game was now verging towards the fractious side and both Kerridge and Kyle Swayne were shown yellow cards by a referee already showing signs of inconsistency, before football returned to the agenda with clever play from Roberts and surging run from Claridge at the end of which he rather pulled his shot across the goal but with the half almost up a tendency that had largely been eradicated of late crept back into the Lions play. Last season particularly there had been too often a tendency to concede a goal with the half time whistle ready to be blown and the habit resurfaced with a vengeance as Lane caught a defender in possession and raced away to leave Hook with little chance. So a half that, for a long time looked as though it had every chance of finishing all square given the Lions spell of supremacy, ended with them looking at a two goal deficit.

Paulton, perhaps fired up by managerial speak at halftime, started strongly down the slope with a bad miss by Lane after a long run by Hulbert and when the same player got away again with the defence looking for a non-existent offside flag, Hook bravely and cleverly went down at his feet to claim the ball. Marshall became the next yellow card for bringing down Roberts before another contentious, at least in the eyes of the home side, penalty decision bought the Lions back into the game. Bobby Swayne's clever pass presented brother Kyle with a shooting chance and the ball bounced away off a defender's arm. That it hit the arm there was no doubt and one has to feel the defender was too far away from Kyle for claims of the ball hitting the arm to be justified and the referee eventually quelled the moans allowing Boston to stroke the penalty home with some ease to give the Lions a stronger foothold in the game. Hook saved well from Claridge after Hulbert was granted acres of room on the left and when the winger repeated the cross seconds later Claridge unaccountably stabbed the ball back into Hook's hands by the near post with some seven yards of open goal in front of him. Bad miss, let off, call it what you will, but it was one slice of luck the Lions enjoyed on the afternoon.

A Joe Bye cross was palmed away but Kyle Swayne was off balance and the shot from the rebound passed the wrong side of the post before the substitutions began with Paulton somewhat surprisingly replacing Bryant and Dean Stow coming on for Bye. Hulbert then produced a belly flop of the highest class when some two yards from Kerridge and was rewarded with a free kick before Boston and central defender Peckham, far from the best of friends all afternoon. clashed again with a yellow card for the Andover man bringing the word inconsistency into one's thoughts again. Peckham, having jogged happily off with no sign of any life-threatening injury, returned after the customary two seconds off the field - what a stupid rule that is - and promptly launched himself two-footed straight at Owen Elias for what was the worst challenge of the afternoon by a distance. Result - a free kick for the Lions, not even a word of reproachment from the referee, and the game descending into another fractious period. Boston cleverly played the ball inside the full back to give Stow a chance but an enormous bobble off the pitch meant that contact with the ball was with the shin rather than the boot and the chance had gone. Lions then survived a goalmouth scramble following a corner before Stow made cleaner contact with another chance, provided this time by Kyle Swayne, but Dyson at full stretch turned the ball round the post. This unfortunately was to be Kyle's last involvement as an ill-timed tackle on Lane led to a second yellow card and the Lions were a man down. There could be little argument over the decision but it was difficult to equate the official reaction to that challenge with the one made by Peckham earlier. Lions, possibly recalling his part played in the win over AFC Hayes in December, threw Phil Andrews into the fray but despite Roberts forcing Dyson to full stretch again after Hook's long ball, the situation could not be rescued and the game finished with Hook saving well from Claridge after the shot took a wicked deflection.

So again undoubted effort and commitment throughout the side, Middleton quietly made his presence felt and Roberts was a revelation in a striking role but overall one felt the home side perhaps always looked just that little more dangerous up front - but then as the home side perhaps they should. Now we need a repeat performance at Windsor and the deserved reward of a different result.

Finally I did not think the referee had the best of games yesterday. They are entitled like players to have off days, but I return to the respective challenges that saw Peckham go unpunished and Kyle sent off. The referee said afterwards that he did not see Peckham's challenge. That would be fair enough except that he gave Andover a free kick - for something he did not see..................

Team: Hook: Kerridge, Middleton, Davies and Buckland: Kyle Swayne, Bobby Swayne, Elias and Bye: Boston and Roberts.

Subs: Anderson, Damen, Stow, Matthews and Andrews.

Match Report by John Gorman

Photos courtesy of Adrian Stones

Match reports may not be copied or adapted without the permission of Andover Football Club

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