Following a successful albeit short pre-season Andover fielded a strong squad to newly promoted OC’s expecting a challenging game given their opponents impressive results from the previous season.

Pitch conditions were not in Andover’s favour and the OC’s took advantage starting fast out of the blocks. The host experience with the awkward bounce from the pitch saw Andover absorb a lot of early pressure but Roberts, Allmark and Sorensen looked comfortable. Andover weren’t without retaliation and settled link up play saw them threaten the OC’s goal against the run of play and earning short corners in the process.

It was the OC’s that took the lead through a goal mouth scramble and Roberts being unfortunate to catch his foot on the line. Goalkeeper McClenaghan coming close to the resulting penalty stroke but to no avail and Andover trailing at the half.

Coach Sordillo made full use to re-organise the team at half time and the second half saw Andover play a more aggressive game with Daley and Evans taking more command in the midfield. OC’s started to slow and Andover finally looked to press an advantage. Quick passing turning to shots, shorts turning to short corner and the inevitable break came from Hayden Jenkins with a well place finish around the advancing OC keeper.

The OC’s threw what they had left at an utterly defiant Andover defence and man of the match McClenaghan denying the OC’s boasting drag flicker late on. Ultimately a resilient performance from manager Andy Bridge’s side against an arguably stronger side.

Coach James Sordillo comments “a really positive sign against a strong team, we’re certainly a few weeks off where we want to be and squeezing 4 matches into two weeks before the season is tiring for the players. We’ll have another strong week of training and look forward to hosting Winchester next weekend”

Squad: McClenaghan (MoM), Roberts, Allmark, Sorensen, Trott, Daley, Evans, Griffiths, Jenkins, Bridge, Brooks, Allen, Hacker, O’Sullivan