There was some FA Vase action in Hampshire as Ringwood Town hosted Andover Town. This is a new ground for me alongside two new teams.
The game got off to a very slow start. There wasn't much going on for the first twenty minutes but I would say Ringwood were on top.
Ringwood had a golden opportunity to take the lead when a great ball was crossed in to the Ringwood striker who's glancing header hit the post.
Ringwood had another good chance afterwards. A long shot from the midfielder was tipped over the crossbar by the Andover goalkeeper.
It wasn't long until Ringwood took a deserved lead. They attacked down the right wing and cut it back to number seven. His smart touch took him past the defender before he slotted it into the bottom right corner to give the home side the lead.
This was short lived as Andover scored a few minutes later. Andover hadn't really been in the game so far. It was after a ball was whipped in from the right wing and the Ringwood defence just couldn't deal with it. The ball was turned into the back of the net by a Ringwood defender. The score was 1-1 at half time.
Ringwood were determined to get a goal to go back ahead but the Andover were holding out well. The home team did go back ahead not long until the second half. This goal came directly from a corner after a curving ball was swung in and it beat the goalkeeper and went into the top right corner.
It was after this that Andover started pressing and testing the Ringwood defence and were starting to dominate.
Ringwood were reduced to ten men near the end after a Ringwood player was given a sin bin for dissent and this proved costly.
Andover equalised after this and it was a great strike. A ball was rolled across the box and the Andover Town striker powered it into the bottom left corner to equalise. The game went to penalties shortly after.
Both teams scored their first two penalties before a Ringwood Town penalty was saved. The rest of the penalties were converted and Andover Town advanced.
A great day out to a new place, a good game came too. I will be back in the future!
