ANDOVER Town took a hefty dent to their promotion dreams on Saturday as they were beaten 3-0 by fellow high flyers Sholing.

Town traveled to the Silverlake Arena hoping to extend their 16 game unbeaten league run, which had helped them climb to third in the Wessex Premier League.

However Sholing, who began the day three points behind Town, were far superior on the day, breezing past their opponents with a brace from Barry Mason and a second half finish from Lee Wort.

Town boss Neil Benson was forced to make a late change on Saturday after goalkeeper Jamie Bray failed a late fitness test and full back Brad Benson fell ill during the warm-up.

Meanwhile Luke Dempsey returned to the starting line up after his suspension while Ashley Vickers and Connor Cocklin reunited at centre back.

Town created an early chance through Sammy Pekun, who shot from a tight angle after bursting past Marvin McLean down the right wing.

However his effort nestled into the side netting.

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(Andover Town's Sammy Pekun is tackled during his side's 3-0 defeat to Sholing)

From there the hosts dominated, putting Town under pressure with the pace of Lee Wort, Jamie Bulpitt and league top scorer Dan Mason.

However it was his brother Barry Mason who broke the deadlock on 15 minutes when he crashed home a sublime volley from the edge of the penalty box.

Town protested that there had been a foul in the build up but referee Robert Ablitt allowed the goal to stand.

Sholing went further ahead 20 minutes later when Mason struck again.

Charlie Gunson was dispossessed in midfield and the ball was cleverly worked to Bulpitt on the left hand side, who fired a low cross in at the near post.

Mason used his pace and power to beat the Town defence to the ball and turn it for his second of the game.

Things quickly went from bad to worse four minutes later when Ashley Vickers went down, after a collision with Blakeman.

The experienced defender was carried off with what was later found to be a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Lloyd Foot moved in to the centre-back role with striker Michael Dixon being subbed on up front.

Despite the changes neither side could find another goal before half time.

Andover looked much brighter after the break but failed to trouble goalkeeper Ryan Gosney, despite creating a number of half chances.

Sholing sealed the game ten minutes after the restart.

Cocklin misjudged a long ball from the Sholing back line allowing Wort a one-on-one with Michael Horne.

Wort easily maneuvered past the rushing goalkeeper and rolled the ball into the empty net.

The home side continued to set the pace and Horne was forced into a couple of excellent saves to deny Wort once more.

Benson introduced youngsters Adam Grange and Ibrahim Olutade in an attempt to test Sholing's back line.

While the pair added a fresh impetus into Town's attack Sholing never looked like relinquishing their comfortable lead as they ran out 3-0 winners on the day.

The result means Sholing leapfrog Town into third place with both teams on 76 points.

However the Boatmen have a superior goal difference and a game in hand over Andover.

Meanwhile Blackfield and Langley comfortably beat bottom side Folland Sports 4-0 on Saturday to move four points clear of Town with a game in hand.

Town can mathematically still clinch a second placed finish but will have to win both of their remaining home games against Team Solent and Fareham while hoping Blackfield drop points in their last three games.

Crucially Sholing and Blackfield go head-to-head on Thursday night in what could be an all-or-nothing promotion six pointer for both sides.