HAMWORTHY UNITED 2 ANDOVER FC 3
(Saturday 26-07-08 (Friendly)
Hamworthy once again entertained a team from a higher league as part of their pre-season warm up. This time the visitors were Andover FC from the Southern League, they were promoted two years ago from the Sydenhams Wessex League. As in the Gosport game the difference in the finishing was the deciding factor. Hamworthy had probably done enough to have warranted a draw over the ninety minutes, but were made to pay for their missed chances.
Andover got into their stride a lot quicker than the Hammers, and twice in the opening few minutes could, and should have taken the lead. They had the Hamworthy United defence at full stretch, but missed the target on both occasions. The Home Side were not let off the hook for long however. A ball from the left was met by an attacker who appeared to be in an offside position. He became active when Martin Peters pushed away the shot to another Andover man who scored. The Referee however disagreed and allowed the goal. To their credit the Hammers tightened up their game, and came much more into the match to level things up. Warren Byerley looked as if he must score when he beat the offside trap, and was left one on one with the Andover keeper. The Hamworthy man who is United’s top scorer so far this season hit the ball high, and wide however. The Hammers were to be rewarded for their extra effort however when that same player Warren Byerley rose to head home, and level the scores shortly before half time.
Hamworthy started the second half much better than they did first in the searing heat, and soon created opportunities to take the lead. Ben Osborne should have given United the lead, but had his shot blocked by the advancing keeper in another one on one situation. The Andover Keeper made another fine save from Ryan Dovell following a jinxing run into the box by the United man. Just as it looked as if Hamworthy had the game under control, Andover snatched back the lead. A top drawer finish gave Martin Peters no chance, and within two minutes he was beaten again by another top class strike. A free kick was awarded just outside the box and the ball was despatched into the top corner of the net before anybody could move, and so made it 3-1 to the Visitors. United were still not finished. They came back strongly in the closing minutes, and scored with a classy strike of their own by Mark Claremont a product of last year’s Under Eighteen Squad. He did well to retain his balance, and cool when having his shirt pulled as he ran into the box .This was before he slotted the ball past the Keeper and into the corner of the net for United’s second. Time ran out unfortunately as the Hammers struggled for an equaliser. In the end they were once again beaten, but not disgraced by a higher ranked team. There were however plenty of plusses to come out of the game for Phil Simkin to ponder over, and this with one or two key players missing.