ANDOVER Town suffered a heartbreaking dent to their title hopes conceding an injury-time winner during their 3-2 defeat to fellow high-flyers Horndean.

Town, who were looking to build on their previous win away at Cowes last weekend, fell victim to a Matt Burt winner in the sixth minute of injury time as the visitors snatched all three points to move to the top of the Wessex Premier League.

But Andover were unlucky to not take any points at the Portway, in a great title-race battle.

Andover made many changes to the team that lost midweek to Bemerton in the cup, with Liam Gilbert and Sam Pekun coming off the bench to start and Danilo Cadette returning to the squad.

Jamie Bray and Charlie Gunson also returned to starting line-up.

Horndean also named a strong side, as Matt Burt and Dan Hayes started, with Josh Maloney a late addition after an injury in the warmup to Ian Humble.

Andover were almost behind very early, after Bray was forced into a brilliant save from a Bobby Swayne clearance.

But they were able to take the lead when Liam Gilbert curled a fantastic free kick around the wall and past the near post from 20 yards for his fifth goal of the season.

Horndean responded well and looked more likely to score in the first half with a flurry of chances to trouble the Andover defence.

The visitors finally got the breakthrough when Josh Maloney crossed the ball from a corner.

Bray’s miss-timed dive left Dan Hayes with a tap in to take The Deans level going in to half-time.

Town made a change at the start of the second half, as Cadette made way for the more defensive-minded Chris Onoufriou.

But this could not stop Horndean taking the lead, as Robbie Tambling’s run along the left wing resulted in Bray palming the cross into his own net.

Andover fought back, and in the 61st minute they drew level, with Lewis Benson setting the ball well for Gunson, who fired the ball into the top corner to equalise for Town.

Andover took control of the game, but an injury to Jamie Bray quickly changed the game, as with no goalkeeper on the bench, forward Joe Maxwell was put between the sticks.

With the game looking to be going to a draw, both managers decided to make changes, as Gunson was replaced by Ollie Yates for Andover, and Jack Maloney coming off for Will Essai for Horndean.

But Horndean were able to get a last-minute winner, as a corner in the sixth minute of stoppage time lead to Hayes’ low shot driven into a crowd of people.

Matt Burt was able to tap the ball in at the back post to earn Horndean the points and the league’s top spot.

Andover return to league action after the Christmas period with an away game against local rivals Whitchurch United on December 30.