ANDOVER TOWN 3 BEMERTON HEATH HARLEQUINS 1

ANDOVER Town went into the new year on the back of a fourth successive victory, with goals from Michael Dixon, Oliver Yates and Claudio Herbert moving them up to ninth in the Wessex League Premier Division, writes Patrick Barlow.

Manager Neil Benson made two changes to the side which beat Winchester City the week before, with Brad Benson being replaced by Ope Aromona and an injury to midfielder Danny Urry seeing him make way for Cameron Hough.

Both teams started slowly, with few chances to go ahead but it was Andover who came closest, when Joe Woodward’s header was punched away by Bemerton keeper Max Frampton.

It took until the 36th minute for the deadlock to be broken, with the away team taking the lead when Jack Eve’s corner was fired into the top corner by striker Scott Joyce, leaving Town behind going into the half-time break.

Benson made a half-time replacement to try and regain momentum, with Ryan Inskip, who picked up an injury in the first half, replaced by Jordan O'Donnell.

However, Bemerton had the best chance after the break, as Neil Williams made a break on the counter attack, only for Alex Dockree to make an excellent block.

Andover were dominant in possession for a large period and after Hough was replaced by Herbert, Dixon, left, slotted the ball in the bottom corner to even the score at 1-1.

Town were given a penalty in the 77th minute, when a shot was deemed to have hit a Bemerton hand just inside the box and Yates did the rest from the spot to put his side ahead for the first time.

Andover quickly extended their lead when the ball broke to Dixon, who ran half the length of the pitch before finding Yates. he in turn fed substitute Herbert, leaving him with the simple task of curling the ball past Frampton.

It sent most of the 109 crowd home happy and gave Andover their seventh win in eight league games.

Town move on to tomorrow’s away game at Lymington Town before home games against Alresford Town (Jan 17) and Blackfield and Langley (Jan 20).