Eastleigh assistant boss David Hughes hopes that Matt Le Tissier has not been put off playing for the Ten Acres club next season, following a double sending-off in the champions' 6-1 defeat at Andover on Friday.

Le Tissier, whose third Wessex League appearance lasted an hour, could not prevent Eastleigh slumping to their biggest reverse of the season but he helped attract a record Andover crowd of 702.

He will play against Hamble ASSC at Ten Acres on Easter Monday but Hughes is worried that the referee's decision to send off Phil Warner and manager Paul Doswell could lessen his ex-Saints teammate's desire to play as much next season.

Warner, another ex-Saint, was red-carded after 15 minutes for swearing at a linesman and Doswell sent from his dugout for questioning the decision.

Andover were already leading through a Terry Lynch goal against an Eastleigh side including reserve goalkeeper Adam Gage when Warner was given his marching orders.Then hotshot Justin Bennett scored a hat-trick, taking his tally for the season to 43, while Eastleigh defender Stuart Roberts was credited with an own goal.

Centre-back Roberts would have had two own-goals to his name if Kevin Reacord had not claimed a goal against his former teammates. Robbie Matthews struck a consolation for the visitors from the penalty spot - his 38th of the season - to make it 5-1.

But Hughes, who had an early goal disallowed, said: "The night was supposed to be about Le Tiss but the referee seemed to think it was about him.

"He was taunting us with the score during the game, which I've never come across before, and I can understand if it puts Le Tiss off playing next year. Matty has been talking about getting some pre-season training under his belt this summer but he must ask himself why he's bothering at this level when refs behave like that.

"We had a night out at La Lupa's after the game and Le Tiss paid for everything. He's a top bloke and loves the club but he must wonder what he's exposing himself to.

"The game was played in a good spirit and the Andover lads were persuading the ref to keep his cards in his pocket - it would have been nice if we'd played with 11 v 11.

"Hopefully we'll be playing in the Southern League next season but the worrying thing is that the ref officiates at that level as well!"

Only 22 league goals had been conceded all season by Eastleigh until they shipped six in one night. And Andover's 2-1 win at Ten Acres earlier this season was Eastleigh's only other defeat of the campaign.

Hughes added: "Andover are a very good side but we gifted them two or three goals. The players were motivated to play well but we played with a formation that was either 4-3-3 or 3-3-4, which we wouldn't have done if we needed the points."

Andover boss Howard Griggs said: "I really appreciate what Paul Doswell did in bringing Le Tiss up for this game - we played really well. It doesn't get much better than this."

Eastleigh travel to Totton tomorrow, where the hosts have their sights on second place after closing the gap on Gosport Borough and Wimborne Town to three points, and with a game in hand. Gosport and Wimborne drew 1-1 at Privett Park.

Sam Percival gave third-placed Wimborne the lead before Mark White levelled, while Totton won 2-0 at Lymington & New Milton thanks to a goal in each half from Mark Osman and Paddy James.

Now boss John Robson is preparing for a mouth-watering derby at Testwood Park. He said: "We've got our sights set on second place but we've got to focus on Eastleigh, who are easily the best side in the division.

"I watched Eastleigh at Andover. Andover played very well, they kept the ball on the deck and passed it well, it gave me a bit of an insight into how to approach Tuesday night. "The sending off made a difference but full credit to Andover - we've just got to make sure that we are prepared for the backlash."

Blackfield & Langley boss Tony Feeney is backing his men to beat the drop after taking over from chairman Ian Hoare for the goalless draw at Christchurch. Bottom-of-the-table Whitchurch's stalemate at home to Cowes Sports maintained Blackfield's one-point lead and Feeney is confident that they can stay up after an impressive performance in Dorset. Midfielder Nathan Oakley, recalled from the reserves, seemed to have struck the winner midway through the second half .

Former Blackfield player Feeney said: "We were convinced it hit the stanchion and bounced back out but the ref didn't give it. It was a very good performance from us. Our goalkeeper didn't have a save to make and, if we continue to play like that, we've got every chance of staying up. All our remaining games will be like cup finals."

Bemerton Heath Harlequins and BAT contested the league's third goalless draw of the day but there were goals at Bournemouth, where Poppies beat Fareham Town 3-2 thanks to Mark Beverley, Ran Lucas and Lewis Till. Peter Wood and Floyd Hamadou netted for the visitors.

A late winner from Danny Boyle gave Moneyfields a 2-1 win over Downton. James Dunk had given Moneyfields a 15th-minute lead before Brian White equalised for the visitors on the hour.