ANDOVER Town manager Neil Benson claims his side can maintain pressure on front runners Salisbury after two victories moved them within three points of the current league leaders.

Benson’s side battled to a 2-1 win away at Bournemouth Poppies on Tuesday night, just three days after completing a 3-1 victory over Lymington Town.

The wins restore Town to second place in the Sydenham’s Wessex Premier League and moves them to within three points of Salisbury F.C, who fell to a shock 2-1 home defeat against Blackfield and Langley on Saturday.

And a buoyant Neil Benson believes his side can maintain their lofty position until the end of the season.

He said: “I was very pleased to get back to winning ways on Saturday.

“We’ve had a little bit of a blip this month but having said that we have had some injuries.

“Going into the Horndean game we were missing several key players and we were well beaten and I was very disappointed not to pick up all the points away at Brockenhurst.

“We controlled the game but the biggest disappointment was to concede a late equaliser.

“But we put in a good footballing performance on Saturday and having got ourselves back on track I don’t see any reason why we can’t be up and around it at the end of the season.

“I’m pleased to be in touching distance at the moment.”

Benson’s comments come after youngster Charlie Gunson’s wonderfully worked goal helped Andover town to a comprehensive 3-1 victory over Lymington Town on Saturday.

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

Danilo Cadette then had a golden opportunity to grab Town a second 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.

Striker Kevin Gibbens gave Town a 2-0 lead going into half time with an instinctive sliding finish after a goalmouth scramble from a low Benson corner.

Town continued to dominate after the break and scored their third after some unselfish play from Sammy Pekun.

The winger went one-on-one with goalkeeper Roy Viner but instead squared to his fellow wide man Cadette, who took a touch before firing into the bottom corner.

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 but it made little difference to the result as Town ran out 3-1 winners.

Andover face Sussex County League side, Newhaven, in the FA Vase at home on Saturday.

Benson added: “It’s important we get a good crowd behind us on Saturday as it is a big game for us.”