Old Cranleighans 2s v Andover M1

Report written by Angus ‘Football or Hockey?’ Haigh

After winning three games on the bounce, Andover Mens 1s faced a new challenge in the inconsistencies of mid-table side, Old Cranleighans. The opposition had a difficult start to the season, but in their previous two games, had scored 21 goals. Nevertheless, Andover went into the game with a strong will and desire to progress from this game with something to go home with.

The early encounters of the game could’ve been argued to be belonging, predominantly, to the home side, who pressed the boys in White intensely and aggressively, allowing them few chances. However, things became a lot more open once David Edwards found some space down the left flank, feeding George Allmark the ball who ran towards the baseline and found Jamie Hacker from a difficult angle. Hacker then dispatched a pinpoint deflection into the corner of the OCHC’s net. 0-1.

OCHC continued to work hard off the ball and found space through the middle of the pitch far more than Andover would’ve liked. Therefore, the home side were regaining control of the game, leading to their equaliser. OCHC had won a Penalty Corner, and despite the strike being a fairly tame effort for Jordan Dennis to stop, Andover’s inability to get rid of the ball proved costly as the home side recycled the ball and with a half chance, hit into the D, found an unmarked player at the back post. 1-1.

HT

The game resumed with both teams becoming a little more open and chances either end becoming more frequent. However, it was OCHC who found the net next, as a routine pass between Centre Backs, Angus Haigh and Mark Eggington, turned into a calamity as Haigh slipped and offered the on-rushing forward a 1v1 with Dennis, and clinically punishing the mistake of the Andover defender. 2-1

OCHC came again with more quick countering play as Andover we’re trying to find themselves a goal. This time, Andover were caught with an aerial and an overload at the back as a 4v2 in the home sides advantage saw their attempt hit Haigh’s foot on the goal line, resulting in a P-Flick. They put their flick away, despite Dennis getting as close as he could to it. 3-1.

Andover started to react more positively, retaining possession of the ball and finding each other without being as frantic in possession. The away side created themselves a chance from a Penalty Corner, which happened to be their first one of the game. Liam O’Sullivan’s hit was met with a deflection that struck the ball against the crossbar, back down to Ben Anthony who laid it across goal for Captain Allmark to slot in the oppositions empty net. 3-2.

Despite this, OCHC found themselves another goal as they broke through the Andover defence and granted themselves a 2v1 on Dennis who was unlucky not to stop their attack as their forwards found the net for the fourth time. 4-2.

The away team bounced back however with less the Ten Minutes to go as Edwards found some more space along the left side after a smart pass from Jack Trott, gifted the left back a run down the baseline. Edwards sent a pass across goal which wasn’t met by the home teams defenders, but was met ecstatically by Ben Anthony at the back post. 4-3.

With Andover running out of time, they began to throw the kitchen sink at the game, changing to a more attacking formation gifting them more men to pour forward. This worked out in the visiting sides favour as George Allmark again ran through the OCHC defence and sent Dan Allen through on goal, who unselfishly passed to Charlie Scowen at the back post for an easy tap in. 4-4. Comeback Complete.

Despite only drawing, Andover will see this as a good result, as two of the oppositions goals were made my Andover mistakes. Therefore by cutting out the mistakes, Andover can become a much more formidable side to play against, home or away.