Vets return from seaside trip with vital 3 points

With a polar vortex causing a blast of arctic weather to form a grip on the country, it was a shivering Andover team that travelled to Portsmouth & Southsea for what was expected to be a tough and physical match. And the expectations were bang on as the Diamonds were met by a distinct chill from both the gods and the home team's approach to defence.

Andover started brightly and created waves of attacks orchestrated by Glyn Hacker, Greig Taylor and Andrew Thomson but a combination of robust defending, an agile goalkeeper, a beach of a pitch which played havoc with the penalty corner routines and some less than clinical finishing kept them at bay.

It could and should have been 3 or 4 in the first 20 minutes, but Andover managed just the one when Richard Romer-Lee picked up a loose ball following a surging run from Andy Thomson and sent a flick past the diving keeper to put the Diamonds ahead. Andover were unable to build on the lead despite having the lion's share of possession, with the Andover goal rarely being threatened. Andover's defence of Rob Oostendorp, Guy P, Gary H making a welcome return to the side and Dave Millings snuffed out the P&S breaks before they really gathered momentum.

The second half saw much of the same, with the midfields quite literally battling for ground to try to score the all important next goal. Andover were denied when the P&S keeper saved brilliantly from a close range bullet from Mark Josling before Greig Taylor smacked the rebound against the post. And the visitors became more frustrated as they could not press home their advantage. Finally Richard Romer-Lee angrily fired a pass into the D which was expertly and deftly deflected by Richard Hoo past the despairing defence for Andover's second. A class finish to a good match.