A powerful 51st-minute header from Neil Paynter kept alive Dandy Town's league title hopes yesterday at Southampton Oval.

Paynter's strike proved decisive in a rugged encounter with Hotels International.

He met the ball perfectly from a floated corner by Paul Cann, ramming it past Hotels goalie Randy Darrell.

It was the type of clinical execution from a set-piece, which Town's new coach Mark Trott had been working on.

And it signalled defeat for Hotels coach Robert Calderon in his first encounter against his ex-club, where Trott had been his understudy.

Paynter's goal gave Town the victory they just about deserved in an often scrappy game.

Both sides had clear-cut chances in an undistinguished opening 45 minutes.

Clifton Anderson nearly shot Hotels in front when Tucker could only parry his thunderous 20-yard drive from a free kick.

Incredibly, though, Hotels' strikers failed to put the ball away as they followed up.

And Town's striker Lionel Furbert twice made a dreadful hash of things after it seemed certain he must open his side's account.

In the 27th minute, with Hotels defence split wide open and the goal at his mercy from six yards, Furbert miscued the ball.

To the agony of Town's goal-hungry fans, it squirmed past the left of Darrell.

And just six minutes later the hapless striker failed to capitalise on an excellent move by Town down the right flank.

Just eight yards from goal and with only Darrell to beat, Furbert got underneath the ball, spooning it well over the crossbar.

Moments before the break, Town's midfielder Pernell Douglas was desperately unlucky not to score.

His crisp header from a Carlos Smith corner rammed against the crossbar, before being booted to safety by Hotels' stretched defence, which Derek Bell did well to keep together throughout the afternoon.

The second half saw Town continue to make inroads down the flanks, with Paul Cann and Carlos Smith shining with jinking little runs.

With their confidence shored up by Paynter's goal Town began to look increasingly dangerous.

In the 69th minute, Cann nearly set his side up for a second goal after working his way down the left flank.

But his final cross was a shade too hard for substitute Lionel Cann and Walter Musson.

Smith also went close in the 83rd minute as he followed up his shot, which Darrell could only palm away. But he lofted the ball over the goal.

For coach Mark Trott the victory was crucial to Town's title chances.

"We needed the points, and we got them. Neil Paynter's goal was particularly pleasing because we have been working on set-pieces.'' Robert Calderon also drew encouragement from his side's fighting performance.

And he added: "I do feel sense a divided loyalty but I wish Dandy Town well.'' Hotels: R.Darrell, F.Greaves, D.Bell, P.Smith, D.Scott, M.Piper, S.Dickinson, C.Robinson, C.Bell (R.Hill, 55 mins), E.Simmons, C.Anderson.

Dandy Town: R.Tucker, W.Rudo (R.Parsons, 80 mins), W.Campbell, N.Paynter, L.Christopher, G.Dyer, P.Douglas, P.Cann, W.Musson, C.Smith, L.Furbert (L.Cann, 52 mins).

Referee: Roddy Burchall.

Men of the match: Derek Bell (Hotels); N.Paynter (Dandy Town).