SHOLING dented Andover Town’s promotion hopes by emphatically ending their 16-match unbeaten run at the Silverlake Arena on Saturday.

Two goals from Barry Mason and another by Lee Wort saw the Boatmen replace Andover in third spot in the Sydenhams Premier Division with a 3-0 win.

To compound Andover’s problems, they had experienced centre-back Ashley Vickers stretchered off with a ruptured Achilles tendon just before half-time.

Mason’s first was an exquisite 15th-minute volley and he doubled the lead just after the half-hour with a move begun by brother Dan.

The youngest of Sholing’s trio of Masons back-heeled the ball into the path of the overlapping Jamie Bulpitt, who delivered low for Mason to slide in at the near post.

Vickers’ injury was another blow to Andover who had already been forced to shuffle their side when experienced goalkeeper Jamie Bray failed a fitness test and Brad Benson fell ill during the warm-up.

Bray’s replacement Michael Thorne did well to thwart Wort, but Sholing’s pacy marksman was not to be denied as he made it 3-0 shortly before the hour.

Connor Cocklin stumbled when failing to cut out Barry Mason’s through ball, leaving Wort free to round the goalkeeper and pass the ball into the net.

Andover, who aim to be at the front of the queue if a second club is promoted with champions Salisbury, will seek to make amends tomorrow (Tuesday) at home to Team Solent.

Sholing, who could still finish runners-up, travel to Newport IoW tomorrow(Tuesday), host second-placed Blackfield & Langley on Thursday and wind up their campaign at Fawley AFC on Saturday.

Newport IoW again had Ryan Oatley to thank for their 1-0 home victory over Lymington Town.

In the second minute of stoppage time Connor Kelly launched a free-kick to the far post where Oatley steered in his third goal in as many games.

Lymington, who travelled with just 12 players, lost Brad Strickland to injury on 43 minutes and their only substitute was goalkeeper Nic Jones.

The threadbare New Forest outfit had gone close to scoring on the hour when Nick Magee struck the woodwork from 25 yards.