WHITCHURCH United moved five points clear of the relegation zone with a vital 3-2 win over local rivals Andover Town on Tuesday night.

Aaron Jarvis scored the winning goal for the Jam Boys, who had to battle back from being 2-1 down after goals either side of half time from Chris Onofriou and Charlie Gunson.

However it was United, playing at home, who took the lead on nine minutes when striker Danny Phillips finished off a typical Whitchurch attack.

Dave Parry lofted a perfect through ball to the striker, whose sublime touch took him clear of his defenders, leaving him to finish into the bottom corner past a stranded Michael Horne.

Phillips nearly doubled Whitchurch's lead two minutes later when he latched on to a headed flick-on.

However the striker's second touch was slightly too heavy and was bravely smothered by Horne.

A shell shocked Town began to show signs of life with Gunson creating chances down the right hand side.

However the youngster spurned a chance of his own shortly after the half hour mark when a deep cross from the left was headed back across goal to Gunson, only for the winger to miss the resulting tap-in.

Andover did find the net shortly before half time when a rare lapse in concentration from the home side was decisively punished.

Lewis Benson was allowed space to whip in a cross from the right which was kept alive by the head of Joe Maxwell before Onofriou ghosted in and volleyed home the loose ball.

Town had several chances to take the lead before the break with Maxwell forcing a diving save from Brad Snelling, however a shaken United held out to keep the scores level at half time.

The visitors maintained the momentum after the break and soon took the lead ten minutes in after another poor piece of defending from Whitchurch.

Gunson sprung the offside trap and with United defence all waiting for the whistle, the youngster simply walked the ball into the box and slid it under Snelling.

Whitchurch hit back six minutes later after an equally poor piece of defending from Town.

A clever run to the near post by Scott Hassell caught Andover flat footed from a corner and the defender flicked the ball with his head over Horne and into the top left corner.

Both managers made changes after 65 minutes with United introducing Jordan Sako and Matt Austin and Town bringing on Michael Dixon and Danilo Cadete.

And it was Cadete who made the biggest impact after bursting into the box before going down after a collision with Ali Brown.

The visitors produced a loud appeal for a penalty but the referee deemed it fair contact and waved play on.

Despite Town having the lion share of possession it was Whitchurch who snatched a surprise winner with ten minutes remaining.

Jarvis' first touch at the edge of the penalty box took him clear from two defenders and left him with an easy finish, which the striker slotted into the bottom corner to make it 3-2.

Andover pushed for an equaliser but the home side remained calm to see out the game and claim a vital three points.

The result moves Whitchurch away from the relegation zone with the Jam Boys now five points clear of 20th placed Alresford Town and eight points clear of bottom side Folland Sports.

Meanwhile the result all but ends Andover's title dreams with the Portway club now languishing nine points behind front runners Salisbury and Horndean.