So here it was, the match i myself had been waiting for, an away trip to the best team in the league, Andover new street reserves have been beating teams in div 3 far to easy for my liking and knew i had my work cut out to train SULFC to top standard before we played them.

i did my homework on Andover NS and went to watch them play New forest reserves where Andover won 7-0 with new forest not even gettin out of their own half for the whole game,after seein that game i will admit i was very nervous about the match we had against them.

knowing Anodver like to play 3 defenders at the back i used a formation that would put alot of pressure on the back 3 an make them spread out to leave big gaps in the defence.

SULFC started the brighter side, knocking the ball around well and doin EXACTLY what we practiced in training, and it was working a treat. we piled on lots of pressure and made the andover defensive earn thier title of " best defensive in the league " as not 1 team had managed to score past andover all season.

That all changed when on the 25th minute a nice thru-ball from karleen to em , who beat the offside trap left her 1-on-1 with andovers keeper, a calm em put the ball into the keepers bottom left corner 1-0 SULFC. i bet andovers keeper didnt know what to do,as she has not picked the ball out the back of her net all season, she was on lost ground.

Andover now knew we were not a team they could simply just role over and beat easy, and you could see it stright from the restart. andover really put the pressure on us and both andovers strikers were linking up well with the midfield an getting their shots away, it took some FANTASTIC goalkeeping from daisy to stop the shots going in.

On the 28th minute a nice thru-ball from andovers midfield to their striker left our defenders trying to play the offside trap, it had not worked and linz was tracking the striker all the way back into the box,where she put in a missed time sliding tackle and the ref pointed to the spot.

with hearts in mouths SULFC lined up on the edge of the box to follow the ball in if daisy saved it. andover step up and the penalty is stright down the middle and daisy SAVES the pen and the ball goes wild to her right and SULFC clear the ball for a corner.

Andover where now getting a foot hold on the game and ragging SULFC around, but yet another thru-ball to em had her away from the andover centre backs an she was clean in on goal with just the keeper to beat only to be PULLED down by the tall blonde centre back of andover in the box, the ref yells " PLAY ON " for which was not the shout i was looking for, from this andover go on the counter attack SULFC again try an play the offside trap but it does not work and andovers striker is 1-on-1 with daisy and she scores 1-1

andover were by now in full control of the 1st half and on the 40th minute a save from daisy is forced away to the edge of the area by marie, an andover player takes a wild strike and it catches an SULFC player on the way to the goal,daisy thinks its going wide so leaves it, but the defelction rattles the post and goes in, silly mistake and its now 2-1 andover

SULFC really needed the half time whistle to go so they could catch their breath, but it was not to come as on the 44th minute SULFC conceded a corner, a lack of communication on the defenders part left daisy trying to punch away the in-swinging corner, the punch came off the outside of her fist and ened up in the goal, not what we wanted just before half time 3-1 to andover

HALF TIME Andover 3 SULFC 1

the 2nd half kicked off and SULFC wanted those goals back and their work rate went though the roof, passin the ball around well, both wingers zoe and em were running at the andover defensive looking for those gaps they always leave when forced to pull wide, but we were just not getting the rub of the green.

karleen was doing her job up-front well and holding the ball up, waiting for the midfiled to pile forward so she could feed her pass into their feet, this happened many times, it was just the end product we lacked

after some great defending from SULFC with huggy throwing herself at every shot that came her way, andover got another break and for the 3rd time in the game beat the offside trap for andovers striker to be left yet again 1-on-1 with daisy. andover put the ball to daisys bottom right and it was 4-1 to andover.

that 4th goal was a real shame because SULFC were really pushing on now and it looked like a very even game.

right from the kick off SULFC pilled on the pressure and wanted to give andover a game, a Fantasic solo effort from marie down the wing had me stunned. she picked the ball up from the right back position and ran the whole length of the pitch beating 1st a striker, then andovers left mid followed 3rd by andovers left back and even got her cross into andovers box, but yet again it was our end product because there was knowone to finsh off what was an amazing run.

not to be left out of this brazillian style solo running, karleen got in on the action, as she picked the ball up just inside andovers half and took on 2 centre midfileds and then 2 andover centre backs and AGAIN the final product was not there as she dragged her shot an inch wide.

the game really was end to end at this point, and you could see SULFC really wanted another goal, but it was not to be as the ref blew for full time

FULL TIME Andover New Street 4 SULFC 1

this really was a game involving 2 very good teams, alot of teams in this league fear coming up against andover, but SULFC went there knowing there was a chance we could get maybe a point if not all 3 out of the game, it was not to be. i'm very proud of all the girls today they showed off their footballing ability today and all of them came off the pitch with their heads held high. we are the 1st team to put a goal past andover this year and if we play like we did today against the rest of this league 2nd place if not 1st place is ours.

watch out div 3 SULFC are not here for fun...were are here to win

well done you " wessex warriors " and a huge well done to Andover new street, you really are as good as your score lines make out, we look forward to playing you in southampton, where we will be ready for what will only be another great game.

would also like to thank Andover for their great hospitality on the day, providing food after the game. thank you