A GOAL two minutes from time deprived Andover of a point in what was otherwise a poor match at Verwood.

Scoring opportunities for both sides were at a premium throughout but after Verwood were reduced to ten men with twenty minutes left Andover should have seized the initiative but failed to do so.

Verwood had the games first chance but after Dave Tasker was caught in nomansland,Owen Trapnell and Gary Thorne combined to mount the rescue operation.

Tasker then made two excellent saves as Verwood struggled to make home advantage count.

At the other end a mark Keogh header was tipped over the bar and Josh Bertie was unable to complete some good work by George Higgins.

If the first half was below average the second period was above but only just.

Both sides struggled to impose themselves and the prospect of a goal less draw was looking the most likely outcome.

Some poor decision making by the referee was far from helpful and his most contentious decision came midway through the second half when he dismissed Charlie Heggan for a second bookable offence.

Heggan was very unfortunate and had the sympathy of supporters of both sides as he departed.

With the clock ticking away the prospect of keeping a clean sheet for the first time this season dawned on the travelling faithful.

However, Nathan Guy was left unmarked and duly lobbed the advancing Tasker to score the winner.

Five of Andover’s remaining seven games are at The Portway and gives them the chance to accumulate enough points to avoid the ignominy of finishing the season as the league’s bottom club.

This starts with a visit from Hythe and Dibden on Saturday