PO SF AFC Stoneham 1 Andover New Street 1 (3-4 pens)

 22 April 2025

On Saturday, these two sides met at the DH Property Services Stadium, also known as Foxcotte Park.  That game ended 2-2, and results elsewhere pitched them back against each other in the first playoff semi-final, this time at Stoneham Lane – and with a draw not possible, one way or another this tie would have a winner.  And if the Vase this year taught us anything, it’s that you don’t want to take on Andover New Street on penalties…

This was a tightly contested affair which got better as the game went on, very little between the sides but more interest as the teams tired and the game got stretched.  The first half hour was largely two teams cancelling one another out, possibly a few nerves too – the exception was a sublime pass from Sampson on 8 minutes, Owen Fee beating the offside trap but seeing Hill tip his shot over the bar.  But gradually, the Purps settled and finally started playing some decent football, on 33 Oliver Jenkins received the ball inside the box but couldn’t quite sort his feet out in time and the shot was blocked.  Four minutes later however, it was Jenkins who got on the end of a Fee corner to side-foot home and give the hosts the lead which they took through to half-time looking reasonably comfortable.  HT 1-0

Maybe Stoneham didn’t want half-time, they were certainly on top at the break, but the second period saw a definite shift of momentum.  Tired Street bodies were being called on for one last effort, and it was a call they answered; Stoneham, no doubt subconsciously, started sitting a little deeper and invited some of that pressure.  The Purps had their early moments – a fine cross inside the first minute, headed out from under his own bar by a defender, and then a Fee corner which swung over and crashed against the top of the crossbar.  But Callum Lee in the home goal had already made a good save from Lewis Williams… Much has been written recently about Charlie Postance and his exploits for Street, but tonight he was largely peripheral.  Instead it was Williams who caught the eye, leading the line brilliantly, running in behind and a constant threat, one good run late in the first half had brought a strong save.  55 minutes, a chipped pass down the wing went over Nagle, Williams latched onto it and fizzed a pass through an empty box.  65 minutes, Williams set the ball perfectly for Lock, but his shot was high.  But 68 minutes and we were back level: a corner only half-cleared to the edge of the box, smashed home through the crowd by Jake Carswell.  Lee saw it late, got a hand to it, but not enough… And now the game opened up as both sides sought the winner: Welch with a powerful shot on the angle for Stoneham, pawed away from his near post by Hill; then another powerful shot from Welch, well saved by Hill but the rebound fell to Martins – a great reaction save from Hill, grabbing the ball and protecting his goal.  Williams with a late shot over from 20 yards… entering stoppage time and a superb block from Lock as the Purps had one final effort… only three minutes of overtime (remarkably few subs!) and we were on to pens.  FT 1-1  

Stoneham up first, and the first six spot-kicks coolly converted (Pope, Thomson and Sampson for the hosts; Lock, Herbert and Williams for Andover).  But then Orvis saw his shot saved low down and Thatcher scored – Lee got a hand to it but couldn’t divert it – meaning Duarte Martins had to score, but his penalty hammered off the inside of the post and away, and the Swifts were home.

Not much to add to that, really – a game which improved as it went on, and would probably have been won in extra-time had that been played although no idea who by.  No doubt these were two tired and initially nervous teams, but once they settled it was an enjoyable arm-wrestle between well-matched sides.  Carswell was terrific for Andover, in the right place and calm with his distribution, while Williams was a livewire.  The familiar names impressed for Stoneham (Martins and Sampson linking up cleverly more than once) but in the end, the last-minute substitutions to bring on – I assume – two penalty takers backfired, as one of them missed… Referee Cameron Davis was good apart from a couple of overly fussy moments…  

You have to feel a bit for Stoneham – a league campaign of 27 wins, 10 draws and a solitary defeat (at home to Cowes Sports, all the way back in September!), finishing 19 points ahead of their three playoff rivals – and not even losing here.  At the same time, this has been a season like no other for Andover New Street – semi-finalists in the Vase, and then recovering from the heartbreak of missing out on Wembley, losing their next two league games but dragging themselves off the floor, playing what’s now seven games in 15 days, and they are the ones who managed to extend the season for one final dance.  And wherever that takes place, I’ll be there…