A BEAUTIFULLY worked goal by youngster Charlie Gunson helped Andover Town return to winning ways with a comprehensive 3-1 win over Lymington Town.

The England Schoolboys international opened the scoring at the Portway on Saturday after a magnificent touch with the outside of his boot split the Lymington defence and sent him through on goal.

The midfielder then calmly fired the ball low past the rushing Roy Viner to give Andover the lead after just eight minutes.

Town, who were hoping to recover from their 4-1 defeat away at Horndean last weekend, looked strong from the off and made the most of a damp pitch with some neat passing play.

However it was from a corner that they nearly doubled their advantage after 12 minutes when Bobby Swayne beat his man at the back post, but his header nestled into the side netting.

Danilo Cadette then had a golden opportunity to grab Town a second goal after some determined play down the right from Lewis Benson allowed him to cross to the open winger, who could only head the ball up in the air from six yards out.

Lymington had their best chance of the half on 30 minutes when a clearance from a free kick landed at the feet of Will Tickle who smashed his subsequent volley over the crossbar.

Five minutes later Town doubled their lead through an instinctive finish from striker Kevin Gibbens who slid to knock in a goalmouth scramble after Benson had struck in a low corner to the near post.

Gunson continued to pull the strings in midfield while Cadette and fellow winger Sammy Pekun caused constant problems down both flanks.

And it was Gunson who nearly gave Town a 3-0 lead on the stroke of half time when Pekun broke down the right before cutting back to the advancing midfielder whose powerful shot was tipped away by Viner.

Lymington brought on Ryan Fuller in place of Pearce Farren at half time but the change made little difference to the balance of the match as Town continued to hold the upper hand.

The home side deservedly scored their third after the restart when Pekun was put through on goal, only for the winger to unselfishly pass back across goal to Cadette who dug the ball out from under his feet and fired into the bottom corner.

Chris Onoufriou, playing at right-back, nearly gifted Lymington a goal on 65 minutes after his poor chest back was intercepted by Zac Mouland but the striker could only find the side netting.

Lymington did score 10 minutes from time when a drilled free kick took a hefty deflection off of a Town defender and looped into the top corner.

However it was Town who had the best of the closing minutes with goalscorers Gunson and Cadette having chances to grab their seconds but both were denied by good saves from Viner.

Benson and Gilbert were replaced by Craig Blakeman and Alex Dockree in the remaining minutes as Town maintained their two goal advantage to claim a deserved victory.

The result restores Town to second place in the Sydenham's Wessex Premier League, six points behind leaders Salisbury.

Town face 18th place Bournemouth away on Tuesday night.