Battling u12 boys in narrow loss to Southampton

Andover entertained Southampton on Sunday in a pulsating game that ebbed, flowed and provided plenty of opportunities for the watching parents to shout themselves hoarse.

In the now traditional mid-week mind games between the respective coaches, Southampton played down their chances by hinting at fielding a weaker team and having to draft in some of their u12 girls side. The Sunday reality meant that this translated into a strong and well drilled side from front to back. Andover were fielding a similarly strong team with plenty of skill and running on the pitch and the subs bench.

During the first period, the visitors dominated and tested the home side all over the pitch with swift attacks and resolute defence resulting in a 0-1 advantage being taken into the second period. A single goal deficit quickly became two but then Andover started to link some flowing moves together and through the skill and tenacity of, amongst others, Xavier Cash, Rory Glover advanced into the D and swept the ball home.

Not to be outdone, Southampton continued to attack and restored their two goal advantage shortly afterwards. In the final period, Andover continued to grow with confidence, and a swift counterattack saw Harry Cowan blast the ball home from close range and a further Andover attack was only saved by a desperate last ditch lunge from the visitors.

Enormous credit must go to the Andover defence for remaining defiant throughout the game, Thomas Duffield and Freddie Walkom shone, but the Andover star was again their goalkeeper, with Archie ‘ninja’ Stepney producing some spectacular saves and dominating his ‘D’.