ANDOVER Lions were crowned as champions of the Hampshire Premier League Division One after a 3-1 victory away at Lyndhurst.

The Lions were awarded a walkover victory over Netley Central Sports at an extraordinary League Committee meeting last week after Netley failed to fulfill the fixture earlier this season.

The three points meant Andover went into the game knowing a win would push them beyond the reach of nearest rivals Hayling United and seal the Division One title with two games to spare.

And the Lions duly delivered on the day with Alex Wright, Shane Lock and Danny Urry all finding the net to secure the club’s first league title in their history.

Andover went into the game full of confidence after two home victories against Lyndhurst earlier this season but had not previously won away at Wellands Road.

Despite this the Lions started well with wingers Kris Hudson and Jaz Beavis looking dangerous on the wings.

Yet it was Wright who broke the deadlock on 19 minutes when he burst forward from the half-way line before unleashing a stunning shot from 25 yards which flew past the goalkeeper and into the top corner of the net.

Beavis nearly added a second on 25 minutes when Hudson set him free, but his shot was fired high over the crossbar.

With five minutes to go to half time club top scorer Shane Lock forced the home keeper into an error and laid the ball to Max Allen.

However his shot was blocked and deflected for a corner.

From this The Lions should have doubled their advantage but they failed to convert three chances in succession with two goal line clearances and a block all denying the visitors.

Lock soon had another chance but dragged his shot wide with others well placed in support.

The Lions then paid for their wastefulness in front of goal when an innocuous challenge on the edge of the area led to a penalty, which Lyndhurst captain Abrahams fired home with the last kick of the half.

The Lions emerged from a half-time dressing down and forced three corners in quick succession, with Allen going the closest to scoring with a volley.

However Andover did make the breakthrough on 53 minutes when man-of-the-match Urry picked out Lock with a great pass and the prolific striker fired home for his 22nd goal of the season.

The Lions were now dominating and Beavis went close to a third when his 25 yard free kick was tipped over.

Urry wrapped up the points when he slipped the offside trap, rounded the keeper and slotted into the open net.

Beavis hit the bar late on from another precision Urry pass and as the heavens opened the referee blew the whistle to declare Andover Lions as Division One champions.

Manager John Smith was delighted to have secured the title in his first season in charge to add to the North Hants Intermediate Cup, picked up earlier in the month.

He said:“At the start of the season we set our goal as promotion and promotion as Champions. “The title is secure and we hope that our promotion will be confirmed shortly by the Inter Leagues Conference.

“We have been magnificent and thoroughly deserve this, we have won 15 out of 16 games, a fantastic achievement by the whole squad.

“There are still two games to play and I will be demanding total commitment and effort to secure maximum points from those matches.”

Chairman, Darren Paris, was equally thrilled.

“This is the culmination offive years’ hard work and a lot of people have helped us along that road.

"This season has been special, Shaun and Sam Rogers of Purbeck Civil Engineering have been magnificent sponsors and Test Valley Borough Council have been very helpful and their grounds staff superb.

“We now need to push on for next season. Our aim when we formed from the old club was to get to Wessex League football.”