Andover M1 v Southampton

Report written by Angus ‘No own goals this week’ Haigh

On the Saturday just gone, Andover Men’s 1s found themselves against a dangerously inconsistent middle table side in Southampton, who with a win, would reach the same points tally they were on themselves.

The game started with Andover maintaining possession of the ball completely and rupturing the Southampton defence regularly. Despite the home side being unable to convert, their heads never dropped, and they continued to bang on the door. It was too long until Ben Anthony found the net once more this season as a deflection across the goalkeeper was more than enough to send Andover into the lead.
1-0.

Following Andover’s fast start, they began to let Southampton loose, as the away side started to find holes in the Andover defence. This created an opportunity for a Southampton striker to roam into the box and pop a reverse shot on goal (it could be argued whether it was on target or not) and at head height, leading to Oliver Woolf instinctively, yet unfortunately, deflecting the ball quite emphatically passed Will Hemming.
1-1.

Andover continued the good work they started the game with and soon grabbed another goal in the aid of a Poacher from Sam Goacher at the back post, after the hard work put in my George Allmark, gave himself the space to accurately slide a ball into Goacher’s feet and simply put the ball into the empty net.
2-1.

Now thirsty for more, skipper George Allmark found holes easily within the away sides defence and wriggled himself some room on his reverse and managed a quick shot of at goal. His shot rocketed into the near post of the Southampton Goalkeepers goal.
3-1.

The goals came easily for Andover now, as an aerial from Angus Haigh at Centre back was sent over and a miss trap from the Southampton meant that the ball spilled into the path of George Allmark who played another simple ball to the back post where he found Poacher Goacher once more.
4-1.

With another man hunt for more goals, Andover’s passing was keeping Southampton from being a part of the game. A high turnover from the home side allowed Ivan Daley room to run and a square ball across the top of the D to Charlie Scowen was met with a hard shot across the diving keeper and hit the back post and in.
5-1. HT.

Andover were still continuous over the general domination of the game. The passing was creating many issues for the Southampton side who were being pressed aggressively all over the pitch. But the 6th goal did not come for a while, until the men in white earned a penalty corner, where Jamie Hacker lured in the runners and laid it to Liam O’ Sullivan, who passed it past the keeper into the bottom right hand corner.
6-1.

With more goals clearly available for Andover to claim, they grabbed them when they came. This time from a counter-attack, and a firm slap pass from Hayden Jenkins to Anthony who ran into the D and send a reverse past the keeper much and grabbed his hat-trick. However, this was much to Poacher Goachers dismay as he sent the goal flying in frustration.
7-1.

Southampton grabbed a consolation goal towards the end of the game after a drag flick was sent into the bottom corner.
7-2.

The last goal of the game came from a lovely passing move and smooth transferring, when Mark Eggington found Charlie Scowen on the base line. Scowen drove along and chipped the ball over to Goacher who finally managed to get his hat-trick.
8-2. FT.

Andover performed well under difficult circumstances, but a well-earned result can send a strong message to upcoming fixtures, such as London Edwardians next week.