AFC Totton's dress rehearsal for their FA Vase second round clash with Andover in a fortnight's time yielded few clues as the sides battled out a 1-1 draw at Testwood Park on Saturday.

It was the first time Totton had dropped points in six home league games this season and manager Ian Robinson knew exactly why.

"Their 'keeper has had a blinder today - he's pulled off at least six top class saves, he said.

"It was a very tough, competitve match between two committed sides and I would imagine it was a good game to watch for the spectators. However, Andover will have a couple of players missing when we meet again and I think they'll have more to worry about than us.

After a goalless first-half, the Lions rocked the home side by snatching a 66th-minute lead through Justin Bennett's 14th goal of the season.

Totton levelled ten minutes later when Ollie Shaw found Patrick James who shot across 'keeper Keiron Drake into the corner.

Andover boss Howard Goddard said: "We've been playing well lately and it was another great point.

"If you had told people three months ago that we would get results against the likes of Christchurch, Newbury and Totton they would probably have laughed at you."

It's not been a good week for Totton's neighbours BAT who suffered their third defeat in eight days - after previously putting together a nine-match unbeaten run.

A FA Vase defeat last Saturday and a midweek home reverse by Alton was followed by a 1-0 setback at home to fast-improving Hamble ASSC for the Tobaccomen at the weekend.

ASSC manager Larry Clay said: "In fairness, the game could have gone either way with both teams trying to play football, but I thought that we handled the pressure better than them."

The only goal of the game was a scrappy one and came just before half-time when a BAT defender's attempted goalline clearance hit the 'keeper and went in.

Lymington & New Milton are still hanging onto the shirttails of leaders Eastleigh following a battling 2-1 victory at Alton.

Steve Strong got the Linnets off to a perfect start after three minutes when he lobbed the Alton 'keeper after being put clean through in a one-on-one situation.

Ian Dyer levelled for Alton midway through the second half but, almost immediately, the visitors notched what proved the winning goal when Liam Green thumped the ball into the top corner from 35 yards.

Linnets' manager Graham Kemp said: "It was certainly a goal worthy of winning the game and it came at the right time as well with Alton having just equalised.

"Alton are a big and physical side and, if they keep these players together, there won't be many teams who come here and roll them over."

Despite their victory, Lymington slip back one place into fifth spot after being overhauled on goal difference by Wimborne, who whipped basement battlers Whitchurch 8-1 at The Cuthbury.

"You have to feel for Whitchurch a bit, they are struggling and it is difficult for them at the moment," reflected Magpies boss Paul Arnold.

"But it was nice for us to win well and one of the most pleasing aspects at the moment is that one person isn't scoring all the goals and they are being shared around."

Just to prove that point, Guy Dipper (2), Paul Roast (2), Stuart Cannie, Mark Smith, Sam Percival and Gareth Barnes all got on the scoresheet.

Portland missed out on the chance to climb above second-placed Newbury when they were beaten 1-0 at home by Gosport Borough.

The only goal came when Stuart Hensman converted a 34th-minute penalty after Neil Scammell had been brought down by the Portland 'keeper.