[Greyfriars Bobby]

This update will be a bit shorter, so I can get caught up.

December turned out to be a busier-than-expected month, with seven fixtures to manage. After a slow start, we regained our form and finished 2015 in style.

On 2 December, we drew 1-1 away to a good Horndean side. Adam Hamilton scored an early goal for us, and the home team equalized just past the hour mark.

Four days later, we hosted Fisher in the Third Round of the FA Vase. We were unable to penetrate their tight defensive shell, and played to a goalless draw. That meant a replay at their grounds in Southwark, and we were terrible, returning home on the wrong end of an 0-3 pasting.

The Tuesday-Saturday pattern continued on the 13th, away to relegation-battler Whitchurch United. Alan Morton hit a brace, and we should have had three points, but Adam Brooks scored the equalizer deep in stoppage time. Even worse, captain Martin Parkin twisted his ankle, and will be out for at least six weeks.


We had only three days to prepare for one of the biggest matches of the season. Totton & Eling had just moved to the top of the league, and they arrived at Portway Stadium on the 16th. The lads rose to the occasion splendidly. The Millers managed only three shots, and Jamie Overson took care of the two that threatened his goal. With ten minutes remaining in regular time, Adam Hamilton got his head to a Jack Taylor cross and nodded it home for a very satisfying 1-0 result that moved us into the second spot in the table.

We got a goal from Alan Barrett on the stroke of halftime to defeat Hamworthy United at Portway on the 20th, and seven days later, Adam Morton's strike allowed us to take all three points from stragglers Fareham Town.

Jack Taylor continues to complain about not getting first team football. It's hard to find a spot for him right now, as center backs Darren Almond and Mark Wetherald are playing well--and we've kept three straight clean sheets. Taylor skipped training on New Year's Eve day, and I issued him a stern warning. He took it like a man; he lists me among his Favourite Personnel. Still, if he pulls that stunt again, he could find himself on his way out of town.

Happy 2015 from everyone at Andover Town Football Club!