A well deserved win

Andover went to Salisbury with a gritted determination to try to get their first win of the season following a succession of tight evenly matched games and came away with a very well earned victory.

The game started in scrappy fashion with players crowding around the ball. A well worked attack early in the first half saw the ball hammered in to the back of the goal by Xavier Cash. Things were looking good. Salisbury were not going to give up and roll over and attacked back to get a quick equaliser.

After the break the team started to open up the play and began to gain better shape. The ball was passed around in to space and Andover were soon building great attacking plays. Play ebbed and flowed up and down the pitch with both sides equally determined to get the next goal. The Andover defence was rock solid with an outstanding performance from players’ player George Goodridge ably supported by the rest of the defence.

Andover, benefiting from some fresh legs in midfield and attack, made several more clean breaks that had the Salisbury defence open up and dashing back to scramble a hasty defence. One of these attacks was justly rewarded by a well worked goal slapped in by Alex Birmingham.

The third period saw more of the same with Salisbury determined to get the score back on an even keel and Andover pressing to extend the lead to a more safe margin. Several narrowly missed chances passed the wrong side of the goal posts and scenes from strictly come dancing, where the attack danced around with the defenders rather than putting a shot on goal, had the spectators pulses pumping as the tension built.

Finally the pressure paid off, with about 10 minutes remaining, Pip Watson put the ball between the posts following a hard fought scrap on the goal line featuring a number of the attack and defence. Overall it was a great game with the boys finally showing us that they have been listening to us in training and are more than capable of putting it in to play effectively. Hopefully this is the start of a winning second half of the season.