Totton & Eling 0 v Andover Town FC 5
Match Date: Tuesday 9th September 2014
League Match
Match Report: Patrick Barlow
Andover Town manager, Neil Benson made 5 changes from the team that started against Westbury United in the F.A. Vase, with defenders Brad Benson, Toby McCauley and Joe Woodward replacing Ope Aromona, Ryan Inskip and Jordan O’Donnell, and Craig Blakeman and Michael Dixon replacing Claudio Herbert and Danny Urry.
Buoyed by Saturday’s FA Vase victory against Westbury United, Town started off quickly when, in the first minute, Jake Wellesley-David kicked the ball the length of the pitch to Michael Dixon, who chipped the ball over Totton keeper Nathan Goodger to give Andover an early lead, and it was only 12 minutes later that Nic Turpin added to the score line again as he made a run through the box and slotted the ball into the goal.
Totton’s first real chance came in the 16th minute, when James Embree made a short pass to Tom Hawkins, whose shot gave Wellesley-David a comfortable save. Shortly after, Andover were on the attack again, and Ollie Yates was able to pick out Michael Dixon in the penalty area, who headed the ball past Goodger into the roof of the Totton and Eling goal, giving The Town a 3-0 lead.
With Brad Benson being forced off by injury in the 31st minute, Ope Aromona came on as a replacement, as Andover traded possession with Totton, neither team being able to break the other’s defence. However, it was a defensive error by the home side that gave Andover their next goal, with Totton’s Zak Pickett playing a short back pass, which Craig Blakeman poked into the bottom corner, putting Andover 4-0 ahead going into half time.
The second half kicked off almost as quickly for Andover as it did the first with Yates netting the fifth in the 48th minute, firing in the rebound after another Michael Dixon attempt which forced a good save out of Nathan Goodger. This didn’t put off Totton from having another attack and, after two substitutions, with Matt Monk and Steve Jenkins replacing Embree and Hawkins, Monk took a great free kick, placing the ball in the top corner, forcing a brilliant save by Wellesley-David.
Town replaced Alex Dockree and Michael Dixon, on 66 minutes, with Tom Riddell and Ike Robertson as Benson sought to ensure that his squad continued to gain greater match fitness. Having settled Town continued to press with Turpin continuing to test the Totton keeper whose efforts frustrated the Town attack and preventing further extension to the scoreline.
Both sides had further half chances but there was no further addition to the scoreline as referee Robson’s whistle brought the game to a close.
Town now look forward to Saturday’s Wessex Premier Division game at home to high flyers Moneyfields, and the Hampshire Senior Cup tie against near neighbours Whitchurch United at the Portway in the following Tuesday evening.
Team: Jake Wellesley-David, Lewis Alderman, Bradley Benson, Toby McCauley, Matt Scott, Joseph Woodward, Craig Blakeman, Alex Dockree, Nick Turpin, Michael Dixon, Oliver Yates.
Subs: Gilbert Aromona, Ike Robertson, Tom Riddell.
Scorers: Craig Blakeman (1), Michael Dixon (2), Nick Turpin (1), Oliver Yates (1)
Andover Town FC website – www.clubwebsite.co.uk/andovertownfc/