A LATE penalty denied Andover Town their third consecutive league win as they were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Brockenhurst.

Goals for Adam Grange and Shane Lock weren’t enough for Andover to take the win at the Portway, as Mark Baker netted from 12-yards with five minutes left to play to earn the visitors a point.

The goal prevented Glenn Burnett’s side from recording a third consecutive league victory, after wins against Amesbury and Lymington in their last two fixtures.

Brockenhurst had the first real chance of the game, as Ronan Moore played the ball in off the left wing, with Jamie Bray being forced to tip the ball against the crossbar.

Town did well not to concede from the resulting play, stopping Matthew Casey from putting the ball in on the half volley.

Brockenhurst almost took the lead towards the end of the half, as Baker’s great shot from the left wing was tapped in by Ryan Long from short range, only for the linesman to rule it out for offside.

However it was Shane Lock who got the breakthrough for Town shortly before the break.

Adam Grange made an excellent run down the left hand side of the pitch, and his cross was latched on to by the right winger, who rifled the ball in from six yards.

Andover doubled their lead shortly after the break when a low shot by Grange rolled past the Brockenhurst defenders, and trickled into the bottom corner to put Town 2-0 up.

It wasn’t long before Brockenhurst pulled a goal back to reduce the deficit, as Baker got his first of the game to make the score 2-1.

The winger played the ball past his marker, before rounding the onrushing Bray and slotting the ball into the opposite corner.

Shane Lock was on target for Andover Town in their recent 2-2 draw Brockenhurst were able to equalise in the dying minutes of the game after they converted a contentious penalty to complete their comeback.

Matthew Casey was felled just inside the box by Town centre back Luke Dempsey, with the referee pointing to the spot with five minutes to spare.

It was left to Baker to take the kick, and he didn’t fail as he blasted the ball into the top right corner to level the score.

Town, who have shown improvement in recent weeks, face a trip to the Isle of Wight to face Newport on Saturday.

They then take on 10th place Horndean in midweek.