ANDOVER Town captain Lewis Benson scored two superbly struck goals as his side continued their promotion push on Tuesday night with a 3-0 win over league bottom side Folland Sports.

The midfielder opened the scoring with a fine low finish from the corner of the penalty area before curling a wonderful 30-yard-free kick past a shocked Jarrid Hixon.

Sammy Pekun rounded up the scoring just before half-time with an tap in from three yards.

Town, buoyed from their hard fought 0-0 draw away at fellow promotion rivals Blackfield and Langley on Saturday, attacked from the off and created a chance within a minute of kick-off.

An early corner whipped in at the near post by Benson was met by Luke Dempsey, but his effort was cleared by the man on the post.

Folland returned fire six minutes later when Matt Andrews found space for a shot, but his weak effort was comfortably saved by Jamie Bray.

Minutes later Andover nearly opened the scoring when Luke Walker's deflected shot bounced towards goal, only to be denied by a great diving save from Hixon.

However the stopper could do nothing about Andover's next chance on 20 minutes, when Benson unleashed a low drive across goal from the right hand edge of the area.

The midfielder's effort flew through a crowd of players, bounced off the inside of the left hand post and nestled in the bottom corner to give Andover an early lead.

Benson doubled Town's advantage 10 minutes with another piece of magic.

Kris Oti was fouled 30-yards out, and slightly left of the goal, earning Town a free-kick in what seemed like a good crossing position.

Andover's players lined up accordingly, but Benson, spotting Hixon leaving a large gap at his near post, struck a curling free-kick which nestled perfectly into the bottom left corner - leaving Hixon visibly baffled.

A hardworking Folland side eventually gained a breakthrough on 40 minutes when Paul Olawuni burst past Connor Cocklin.

The defender tripped the striker as they ran side-by-side, but an honest Olawuni tried in vein to continue his run before being awarded the original foul.

Cocklin was booked but may have seen straight red had the striker gone to ground earlier.

A relieved Town picked up their game and added to their lead on the stroke of half time.

Benson, attempting to complete his hat-trick, fired a wicked shot at Hixon, who could only parry out to the advancing Walker.

The goalkeeper did enough to put the striker off, but as his effort bobbled towards the back post Pekun steamed in and tapped home to give Town a comfortable 3-0 lead at the break.

Andover continued to control the second half in what was an all-round measured performance from the home side.

Meanwhile Folland continued to fight hard but showed why they sit rock bottom of the Wessex Premier League, primarily with a lack of quality in the final third.

Despite this tensions flared between the two sides and were bought to a head on 70 minutes after a full blooded challenge by McAulie Stubbs.

The right back, who was solid all game, was booked for his part in the incident, which prompted a strong reaction from Olawuni.

However Stubbs lightened the mood moments later when he got up from nursing an injury to scissor kick a dangerous looking ball to safety, despite not having a boot on at the time.

The comical moment prompted laughs from the Portway crowd.

Follands had their best chance of the game when Andrews volleyed over the bar from just inside the area while Charlie Gunson nearly added a fourth for Town late on, only to be denied by the post.

The win means Town maintain pressure on second placed Blackfield and Langley, who face a very difficult game against runaway leaders Salisbury FC on Saturday.

Meanwhile Town play third from bottom Fawley at the Portway.