ANDOVER Town’s title hopes were dented on Saturday as they fell to a 2-1 defeat at Bemerton Heath Harlequins.

Town, who had previously beaten Harlequins twice this season, were hoping to keep the pressure up on league leaders Salisbury, who marauded to a 6-1 victory at Folland Sports on the same day.

However it was not to be for the Portway club who conceded two first half goals through Russell Cook and Sam Griffin.

Town started the stronger of the sides and were unlucky not to be ahead after having an effort scrambled off the line and a shot rebounding down off the bar in the opening 10 minutes.

Heath came back however and it was new signing Sam Griffin who put the home side ahead, breaking through one-on-one with Jamie Bray and dinking the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper.

Andover responded well and could have equalised when a cross from the right was met in the box, but Joe Prodomo reacted superbly to tip the ball onto the bar.

After this spell of pressure, Bemerton settled and could have doubled their lead but for an excellent save from Bray.

However the goalkeeper could not prevent the home side from going 2-0 up, when the Andover defence was caught napping again and Cook was threaded through on goal and duly dispatched his tenth of the season.

The visitors, hoping to stay on the coat-tails of Salisbury FC and Horndean, searched for a route back into the game.

And they thought they had clawed one back when Charlie Gunson’s ferocious drive rocked the woodwork, only to be cleared.

They got a consolation, however, in the 87th minute when skipper Lewis Benson was quickest to react to a goalmouth scramble and poked home.