Lions 2 Hillingdon Borough 3.

AFTER a run of games that had seen Andover take ten points from a possible 12, a second half performance described by manager Ady Burford as "Probably the worst of the season" saw a two-goal lead surrendered and Hillingdon take all three points with a goal in the last minute.

The goal certainly had it's share of controversy but the game really turned on two minutes in the second half when three goals were scored and Hillingdon will undoubtedly feel some form of rough justice had been served since the Lions took all three points with a similar stoppage time goal in the earlier meeting between the clubs this season.

Glen Damen and David Asker returned to the side with Dean Stow dropping to the bench and Craig Martin injured and the loss of the latter, coupled with Andy Puckett's suspension, left the side without a left back causing the starting line-up to show only three across the back.

On the driest pitch seen this year the visitors were quickly in action with Danny Tilbury twice shooting wide while a Ben Wright break created a shooting chance for Joe Harris but the effort lacked power and a Wright header from Jack Smith's cross was wide of the target. Again too many home attacks foundered on the offside flag and a Lee Chudy free-kick was too close to the keeper but the visitors looked the more dangerous and Arthur saved twice from Blaze O'Brien in quick succession.

Visiting keeper Ben Harris then picked up a back pass but Chudy's shot from the free-kick was blocked and when Andover reverted to their normal formation releasing Tas Roberts on the right flank the change bore immediate result.

Clever play by Wright again created a chance for Harris and when the keeper blocked the shot Roberts steered the loose ball through a crowded goalmouth and into the net.

This bought the Lions back into the game and when a swerving Chudy effort was tipped over only the visiting defence will know how they survived the goalmouth melee after the resultant corner.

Wright was quickly in action after the restart bringing two saves from Harris and when Matt Davies cleverly sent Chudy away Andover's Harris could not get enough contact on the cross. Davies then stopped the dangerous Leon Nelson before the arrival of the two minutes that changed the game. Wright chased a lost cause on the right wing, dispossessed the defender who was trying to shepherd the ball over the dead ball line and cut in to beat the exposed keeper from close range.

But from the restart the Lions' defence stood off as Nelson powered forward and beat Simon Arthur from the edge of the area and within another minute a corner was not cleared and Mark Kirby headed the visitors level.

Stow replaced Roberts but Lions were totally on the back foot and the goal bore a charmed life. With time almost up Hillingdon's umpteenth corner in a short space of time and Danny Tilbury's header at the far post climaxed a remarkable come back.

Team: Arthur: Swayne, Davies, Middleton, Smith, Roberts, Asker, Damen, Chudy, Wright, Harris. Subs: Wynn, Martin, Stow, Morse, Andrews.

By John Gorman