LUCKLESS Andover Lions started the day one place above their opponents at the wrong end of the Puma Engineering Hampshire Premier League table on Saturday but by the end of this fixture the positions were reversed as the visitors left with the spoils.

Chris Paris again took control with manager Ray Cozze still recovering from a back injury and his preparations were hindered by a growing list of injury problems, with Aaron Jeffery and Sam Baxter added to the list.

Lions found themselves behind after six minutes as James Deeley tapped in from three yards.

On 21 minutes it got worse as a collection of errors gifted Liam Shawyer a goal. They then regained some composure and started to make inroads and just before the half hour last season’s leading scorer Dan Reynolds opened his account from Nick Dadds’ cross.

Darren Paris and Gilbert both missed and to make things worse, Deeley picked up a loose ball and drove home in off the post to regain Upham’s two goal advantage.

On the stroke of half-time Dadds reduced the deficit when his cross shot embarrassed the keeper and flew into the far corner.

The second half was a series of frustrations for the Lions as they pressed relentlessly without success.

For long periods they were camped in the Upham half but could not make use of their chances. Gilbert, Paris and Reynolds all went close and Upham defended with commitment and intent as the keeper atoned for his previous error with two excellent saves before the Lions succumbed to a breakaway goal from Rob Pfeifer.

The defeat saw Lions slump to just one place off the bottom.

Paris was naturally disappointed.

He said: “I really couldn’t have asked any more of the players that we had on Saturday but it is so difficult picking a team with different line ups week in week out.

The injuries just keep on coming.

“We have a Hampshire Cup game, two winnable league games and then the Andover Open Cup game coming up.

These will have a big effect on the rest of our season and I just hope our luck changes soon.”