 This was repeated the following season , and so in 1971 Andover took another step up and joined the Southern League . Now competing against teams from an even wider area spanning almost the entire width of the country ( ranging from Bideford in the west to Bury Town in the east ) and in some cases with a larger budget and fanbase , competition was always tough with the club generally finishing in the bottom half of the table . The highest position the club reached at this level was the sixth place reached in 1987 – 88 and again in 1991 – 92 . 
