Eastleigh 1 - Andover 2

EASTLEIGH manager Paul Doswell had no hard feelings against Ten Acres old boy Vince Rusher for shattering the league leaders' proud, unbeaten record on Saturday.

The man he really took issue with was Amesbury referee David Woolford for first allowing a potential match-winner by ex-Andover midfielder David Asker against his old club - and then promptly ruling it out after consultation with his lineman.

Eastleigh were leading 1-0 at the time, courtesy of a 33rd-minute David Laws finish from Robbie Matthews's sweeping right-wing cross.

And it looked as if they had broken the Lions' defences again nine minutes later when Woolford over-ruled the linesman's flag and signalled for a goal after Asker had squeezed an angled shot inside Kieron Drake's near post.

Eastleigh were in full celebration and trotting joyously back to the centre circle when they had the smiles cruelly wiped from their faces. On the linesman's advice, Woolford ruled that ex-Saint David Hughes, who was running back from an offside position, had been interfering with play.

"The referee admitted afterwards that he'd made a mistake and that he'd have to learn from it, but it's a bit late now," said Doswell. "We had a genial chat and I suppose you've got to say that at least he was brave enough to admit he'd messed up, but the fact is the officials have cost us three points.

"At 2-0 it would have been game over."

Eastleigh left fuming for the half-time dressing room and, within two minutes of the restart, their frowns were etched deeper when Steve McNulty equalised for the Lions with a belting half-volley from Terry Lynch's right-wing cross.

With the rain lashing down, Andover's 20-goal sensation Justin Bennett should have pierced their defences again, but that pleasure was left to 28-year-old Rusher who showed his old club no mercy by coolly lobbing 6ft 5in 'keeper Colin Matthews in the 58th minute.

Even then, the drama wasn't over. Eastleigh had already rattled the crossbar with a first-half header from giant defender Stu Roberts and a shot from ex-Saint Christer Warren.

And, against all the odds, it was the normally lethal Laws who completed an unwelcome hat-trick of woodwork hits in the 71st minute, slamming a penalty against the post following Gavin Richards's foul on lively substitute Martin Beck.

"We've got to start putting our chances away," stressed Doswell. "We're making a dozen or more in every game and only scoring ones and twos. Some of our misses today were unbelievable."

After joining Doswell's championship-chasing 'dream team' during the summer, Rusher's brief stay at Ten Acres was blighted by a hamstring injury and a poor disciplinary record. But there were no hard feelings when he rejoined his beloved Andover last month. Far from it.

Only last Thursday, he was playing in a charity golf match with Doswell and his assistant Eastleigh boss Hughes.

"He won that as well, so it's obviously Vince's week," smiled Doswell. "It's sad that things didn't work out for him at Eastleigh because everyone knows what a good player he is, but, although Andover's only 20 miles up the road, I think he felt homesick. They love him there.

"He's really stuck the knife in to me today, but that's football. He's a mate at the end of the day."

Unfortunately for Andover, Rusher won't be weaving any more magic now until the New Year. He starts a long suspension today which keeps him out of action until January 4.