Andover Town FC 1 v Westbury United 0
Match Date: Saturday 6th September 2014
F.A. Vase – Qualifying Round 1
Match Attendance: 113
Andover Town looked to bounce back from defeats in their last two matches as they entertained Western League Division One side Westbury United.
The match marked another milestone in Town’s short history as they embarked on FA Vase competition for the first time.
Town made one change from the side that lost narrowly to Winchester City on Tuesday evening with Turpin replacing Dixon in the starting line-up as Neil Benson sought to manage the continuing absence of skipper Lewis Benson and the continuing return to fitness of other squad members.
A crowd of 113 saw both sides start brightly but neither side managed to establish much momentum as early chances, at both ends, were from long shots which sailed well wide or well over. It was 16 minutes before Town had their first real chance as a long kick out of defence by Jake Wellesley-David found Claudio Herbert, who had another good game with little reward, but his first time shot went well over.
Town continued to press and Gunner Yates found two crosses in quick succession which forced the Westbury keeper Collington into hurried action as Town, particularly in the form of the unlucky Nick Turpin, just failed to find the crucial touch goalwards. Turpin then, on 25 minutes, went through but, with only the keeper Collington to beat, a good block and a wickedly spinning deflection just prevented him from putting Town ahead.
Although, on too many occasions the final ball still lacked sufficient finesse, chances continued to come, Herbert’s running and a clever cut back to Turpin opened up the United defence but again the final shot failed to hit the target.
Westbury continued to have chances on the break and, from one such attack on 40 minutes, a shot took a big deflection off of Matt Scott, forcing Wellesley-David into a smart save down to his left. There was still time for Turpin and Danny Urry, who combined well throughout; to force further chances but the half drew to a close with little danger at either end.The second half started quietly.
Despite an early penalty shout for Town it wasn’t until 55 minutes that the game began to come to life as a series of long throws and corners saw Ryan Inskip and Alex Dockree both go close before, from another corner, the ball fell to Danny Urry on the edge of the box.
His shot, through a crowd of bodies, look destined for the bottom corner but, at the last minute, the Westbury keeper Collington got down well to save. Michael Dixon replaced the tiring Herbert and, almost immediately, his physical presence created a chance for Gunner Yates on the right-hand corner of the box.
Again his shot look destined for the top corner but a United head saw it over the bar with the keeper Collington beaten. McCauley replaced O’Donnell as Benson sought to capitalise on the pressure.
United began to tire but had not given up hope and a long shot forced Wellesley-David into a smart shave before the impressive Lewis Alderman produced a curling cross that Turpin could not steer beyond the keeper Collington. Tempers began to fray in the heat and, after Gunner Yates was felled again, his cross was turned goalwards by Turpin straight into the hands of the keeper Collington.
The game entered the last 10 minutes with Town pressing. Dockree and Inskip both went close as the crowd began to nervously anticipate extra time but, on 89 minutes, another excellent cross from Lewis Alderman found Ryan Inskip on the far edge of the 6-yard box.
Inskip, despite others jumping in front of him, expertly guided the header back across the goal, beyond the keeper Collington, and into the corner to give Town the lead and spark celebrations across The Portway.
Alderman still found time to get free one further time. His shot deserved a goal but the keeper Collington’s hand prevented him from getting the reward his play deserved and, with little further action, the referee brought the game to an end with Town looking forward to a trip to, Western League side, Bradford Town in the next round.
Starting Line Up:
Jake Wellesley-David, Lewis Alderman, Gilbert Aromona, Jordan O’Donnell, Matt Scott, Ryan Inskip (1), Claudio Herbert, Alex Dockree, Nick Turpin, Danny Urry, Oliver Yates.
For more information on Andover Town FC: www.clubwebsite.co.uk/andovertownfc/292506/Home
Next match away to Totton & Eling Tuesday 9th September – kick off 19:45
