VT FC boss Dave Diaper admitted he was sorely missing last season's top scorer Mike Spinney in the wake of a 2-1 Sydenhams Wessex League defeat at Alton Town.

With Spinney bagging 51 goals and his strike partner Gary Male getting 50, the Boatmen cruised to the Hampshire League title last term.

But Spinney is out until the new year with a broken wrist and Diaper admitted: "We're creating lots of chances without scoring and you do miss someone pacy like Mike, who's such a good outlet up front.

"He hasn't been as prolific this season because the Wessex League's a learning curve for him, but he's as important to us as Andy Forbes was to Winchester last year.

"Gary Male's battling hard but nothing much is going for him at the moment."

Last night's result was sweet revenge for Alton, who were buried 6-0 by Vospers on the opening day of the season.

Hughie Doyle's men dominated the first half to score through Mike Douglas and Chris Monday, but they slackened off in the second and gave away a late Matt Rayner own goal from Marc Diaper's corner.

Doyle said: "That's four points we've got out of the last six, so I should be happy - but I'm not. We bossed the first half and should have done better."

If it's goals and excitement you're after, BAT are the team to watch right now.

After Saturday's 3-3 thriller at Gosport Borough, they held another of the top sides, Andover, to a 4-4 draw at Southern Gardens last night.

"We're the great entertainers," laughed manager Andy Leader. "It's a bit like managing Kevin Keegan's Newcastle."

The Tobaccomen showed plenty of fighting spirit to come back from 2-0 and 3-2 down to lead 4-3 until the dying moments. But they were caught dozing by a flicked-on throw which ricocheted in off Lions striker Vince Rusher.

Andover had gone two up through Danny Sullivan and a Dave Marden own goal only to be pegged back by Richard Gregory and Marden.

Justin Bennett restored the Lions' lead, but back came BAT with another Gregory effort - his fourth in two games - and a rare Simon Elliott goal from an 85th-minute corner.

BAT boss Andy Leader said: "We showed great character to come back from two down and unbelievable resolve to turn a 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 lead. We've gone three games unbeaten now, which has stopped the rot, but we've got to defend better as a team."