ANDOVER Lions let a two-goal lead slip last Saturday as they were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw with Colden Common.

The hosts had taken a comfortable lead in the first half thanks to goals from Nic Turpin and debutant Lawrence Larbi.

But second-half goals for Ben Thompson and David Egerton meant the Lions could only secure a point.

Manager Matt Scott drafted in two new dual signings from Andover Town in Jay Jay Tucker and Lawrence Larbi for the match, while Robbie Skeates made his debut in midfield.

The Lions started very positively with Larbi looking very dangerous on the right of midfield and the winger was first to threaten the visitor’s goal with a volley that went just wide on the quarter hour mark.

Andover continued to dominate possession and it was no surprise that they took the lead soon after.

The move started in their own half and a series of neat passes between Joe Wright, Lewis Alderman and Nic Turpin ended with Larbi being put through.

The speedy winger lost his marker with his pace and shot past the advancing Goble and in off the post for an outstanding team goal.

The goal lifted the spirits of the players and they pushed on to increase their advantage, doubling their lead 10 minutes later.

Tucker skipped past two defenders before picking out Turpin with a cross that was emphatically volleyed home by the striker.

The Lions looked in control going into the break, but Colden Common fired a late warning shot through Thomson’s missed effort.

The hosts started the second half brightly and Turpin nearly added his second with a blocked volley.

Larbi then flicked the ball over the bar after a long run that cut through the visitor’s back four.

More chances came and went and a sense of frustration started to creep into The Lions’ play.

This was compounded in the 55th minute when a gap opened up in centre midfield and Thomson raced through unchallenged and lobbed the ball over Weatherall in the home goal.

Nerves started to get the better of The Lions and tired legs led to Colden Common becoming more of a threat in the game.

On 67 minutes the visitors won a corner on their right and Egerton was gifted a free header to equalise.

The Lions still had chances but failed to capitalise.

Ollie Yates cut in from the left but his shot was directly at the keeper and Wright had a header that was cleared off the line.

Several scrambles ensued and Colden Common defenders threw themselves in front of everything to remain level.

Willoughby’s last ditch header almost clinched the points but as the keeper saved his effort the referee blew for full time.

Manager Scott said: “It’s been a tough week for us and we were struggling for numbers.

“We played exceptionally well in the first half and scored two great goals but when we needed to bring on fresh legs in the second half and we had no real options.

“We’ve got a point but the lads feel that we dropped two.”