BACK-TO-BACK defeats played its part in a threadbare Bemerton Heath Harlequins dropping to 14th place in Wessex Premier following a 3- 1 defeat at Andover Town.

The Western Way outfit lost five players on the morning of the match which left manager Ian Chalk with just two subs available.

That was reduced to one when Reece Rusher, who returned to the side after recovering from illness, received an elbow to the nose and was forced to leave the field of play.

Bemerton regrouped at the Portway Stadium and took control of the first half with Neil Williams, acting as a makeshift centre forward, going close along with partner-in-crime Scott Joyce.

It was inevitable the goal was coming and it arrived through Joyce after he fantastically tucked away Jack Eves’ corner.

The visitors went into the break ahead but it came at the expense of losing Matt Palmer to an injury, leaving the bench empty as Carl Rogers was the final substitute to be used.

Williams dropped back into midfield as Rogers moved up front.

The visitors needed some luck and when Williams broke the offside trap they thought it had come, but unfortunately he lacked composure when necessary and lost control of the ball as he shaped to shoot.

After this, the home side grew in confidence and, with Bemerton tiring, they drew level, and later went ahead from a contentious penalty.

And the defeat was confirmed two minutes remaining when Joe Spratt failed to clear his lines and the clearance fell to a home striker who passed into the empty net.

Bemerton kick-start 2015 at home to AFC Portchester (3pm) on Saturday.