ANDOVER Town were denied a third consecutive league win on Saturday as they were beaten 2-1 at home to 10-man Portland United.

The visitors were forced to play 65 minutes with 10 men after Jamie Beasley was shown a straight red for an off-the ball incident.

Town looked favourites to secure a win after a Javier Santafe-Vivo penalty cancelled out Ryan McKechnie’s early finish.

However Portland managed to escape the Portway Stadium with all three points thanks to a fine 73rd minute winner from Tom Richardson.

Andover Town boss Glenn Burnett was forced to name Liam Gilbert and Ross Gregory in the heart of defence, following Luke Dempsey’s departure to Sholing.

However Portland’s defence was the first to be tested when Santafe-Vivo’s header forced a save from the visiting goalkeeper.

Town continued on the front foot and hit the post moments later when Reece Rusher (pictured) got his head to a left wing cross.

However, just minutes after Rusher had hit the post Portland took the lead.

McKechnie picked the ball up just inside the Andover half and burst into the penalty area, where he side-stepped two defenders and calmly slotted past Lloyd Thomas in the Andover goal.

Then came a moment of controversy, when, in the 26th minute, Portland were reduced to 10 men when Jamie Beasley was shown a straight red for lashing out at an Andover player.

With an extra man Andover began to push forward and were soon rewarded with a penalty when Craig Blakeman was fouled in the area.

But Liam Gilbert’s strike was too near to the goalkeeper who easily saved.

Andover continued to dominate after the break and nearly equalised when Santafe-Vivo’s shot was deflected onto the bar.

Rusher hit the post again in Town’s prolonged spell of pressure, which finally reaped reward when the referee awarded Andover a second penalty kick.

This time Santafe-Vivo took the spotkick and put it past the Portland goalkeeper to draw Town level.

The ten men of Portland began to dig in and defend deep, but continued to look dangerous on the break.

And it was from one of these counter attacks that Richardson scored the winner, taking the ball wide in the area before slotting the ball across Thomas and into the far corner.

16th placed Andover now face a tantalising league clash away at local rivals Whitchurch United on December 28.

The Jam Boys sit just four points behind Town in 18th place.