Andover 3. Fleet Town 5

FLEET Town maybe now in the driving seat in the race for the JWL title after Tuesday's night mauling at The Portway, but it's not all over yet.

The Lions still have a game in hand on their North Hants rivals and it could still go down too the wire with what could be a championship decider at Fleet in the last league game of the season on Saturday week.

The Lions still had to win last night''s (Thursday) home game against Christchurch and Saturday's home clash against bottom-of-the-table Swanage, and Ken Cunningham Brown's side can't relish next Tuesday's tip to local rivals Whitchurch if they have to go to Longmeadow needing a result considering what happened in the home game a couple of week ago.

Fleet however are far from home and dry with them facing a tough trip to Portland on Saturay, are at home to Thatcham on Tuesday before the final showdown at Calthorpe Park - and Totton will be waiting in the wings to pounce if either of the top two slip up.

Andover seem to be playing better away from home with the Fleet mauling their second successive defeat at The Porway after three magnificent victories on the road, despite two goals from Lloyd Webber and another from Andy Forbes.

However, the Lions are unlikely to play as poorly in defence, with Kieorn Drake having the proverbial nightmare in goal, as a woeful rearguard showing was duly punished by Fleet hitman Ian Mancey, a player who came close to joining the Lions earlier in the season, with a four-goal second-half salvo.

It was galling for the home faithful to see the Lions receiving a taste of their own medicine but they never found their usual rhythm against a skilful and hard working Fleet side.

Watched by their biggest league crowd of the season, Andover had more of the ball in the first half and deservedly got the breakthrough after 20 minutes when Shaun Dyke drilled in an inswinging corner from the left and Webber got the vital touch on the line to force the ball home.

Fleet almost equalised after a poor punch by Drake when attempting to clear but Vince Rusher could have given the Lions a two-goal cushion when set up by Forbes only to scuff his shot harmlessly wide.

It was to prove a vital miss as Fleet hit back to level terms seven minutes later. From their first corner the edgy Drake again failed to deal with Carey's inswinger from the left and the ball rebounded off Fleet striker Mark Frampton into the net off past Paul Freeman on the goal-line.

Fleet gave warning of what what to come when they carved out the best move of the game just before half time when fine play by Neil Musgrove, a 34th minute substitute for the injured Paul Dadson, ended with Mancey forcing Drake into a fine diving save low to his left.

It all went pear-shapped for the Lions when Mancey was gifted two goals in as many minutes in a whirlwind start to the second half.

The Andover back line waited for an offside whistle that never came and Mancey gave Drake no chance with a clinical finish and a minute later he made it 3-1 with a free header at the back post after Carey had whipped the ball over from right.

Mancey's best effort came a minute late when he lashed a shot over off the cross bar from close range but five minutes later Andover were back in contention at 3-2 when Forbes leapt high at the back post to head home from Bicknell's deep cross from the left touchline.

Rusher was desperately close with an equaliser when rifling narrowly wide on the turn but Fleet regained their two-goal advantage after Andover boobed again from a corner, Drake inexplicably dropping the ball at Mancey's feet for the Fleet man to tap home for his hat-trick and make it 4-2.

It looked as the occasion got to some of the Andover players as Fleet defender Wayne Noad rattled the woodwork again from another corner before Mancey strolled clear to chip a stranded Drake for his fourth goal of the night when making it 5-2 on 80 minutes after Lions defender Matt Crossley stumbled over a long clearance.

Andover's third goal came well into in stoppage time from Webber after Fleet defender Kevin Ross was forced to take over between the posts after their 'keeper mysteriously collapsed in the goalmouth after clearing a ball. It made the final scoreline a little more respectable but it's hard to recall the last time the Lions suffered such a mauling.

Andover (4-4-2): Drake; Freeman, Barker, Crossley, Bicknell; Asker, Webber, Walsh, Dyke; Rusher, Forbes. Subs: Odey (for Asker 70 mins), Whale (for Walsh 75 mins), Kennedy (not used).