ANDOVER Town slipped down to 14th in the Wessex League Premier following a disappointing 3-0 home defeat to Lymington on Saturday.

An early goal from Ross Bottomley and second half double from Linnets striker Sam House sunk Town at the Portway.

Town boss Glenn Burnett made four changes from the side that lost 2-0 to AFC Portchester in their previous fixture.

Jarid Hixon came in for the suspended Lloyd Thomas in goal, while Connor Cocklin, Zach Glasspool and Sam Pekun replaced Ross Gregory, Jordan Brackstone and Victor Guiterrez.

Lymington started the better of the two side and were rewarded with an opening goal just four minutes in.

A cross from the right hand side was headed back from the far post and Bottomley volleyed it past Hixon.

Andover were struck another blow 11 minutes in when Adam Grange went down after a tackle from Tom Mann, who was booked for the challenge.

Grange had to be carried off with a serious knee injury and he was replaced by Guiterrez, Town had several free-kicks, but Ross Casey wisely chose to punch away instead of trying to catch the ball in the wet conditions.

Minutes later, a free-kick by Javier Santafe-Vivo was launched into the penalty area, but the keeper punched the ball behind for a corner.

Andover continued to push forward and had another good chance when Sanatafe-Vivo picked out Pekun with an excellent pass.

However the winger’s cross was headed over by Zach Glasspool.

Just before half-time, a free-kick by Liam Gilbert found Santafe-Vivowho.

He sent Reece Rusher through, but his cross was again squandered, this time by the head of Guiterrez.

Lymington carried their narrow 1-0 lead into the break.

However it took just six minutes after the restart for the Linnets to double their lead.

A shot from House from inside the penalty area found the back of the net, despite a full length dive by Hixon.

On 70 minutes, Lymington went 3-0 up through House’s score of the game.

The striker latched onto a half clearance and moved to his right before hitting his shot across Hixon into the far corner.

Andover responded with SantafeVivo free-kick but it went narrowly wide.

The chance spurred a good period for Town, who were now seeing more of the ball.

Pekun and Rusher caused the Lymington defence some trouble on the wings and produced a number of dangerous crosses.

However Andover could not find a way past Lymington, who left the Portway as comfortable 3-0 winners.

The result sinks Town to fourteenth in the Wessex League Premier, ahead of Saturday’s away game at 19th Cowes Sports.