ANDOVER Town captain Lewis Benson scored four times as his side moved up to second in the Wessex Premier League with a 6-1 win over Alresford on Tuesday night.

The midfielder netted twice before half time to give his side a narrow 2-1 lead before adding another two after the break as a rampant Town recorded their sixth consecutive league win.

Midfielder Alex Dockree also scored a second half brace to help Andover leapfrog promotion rivals Blackfield and Langley and move into second place.

Manager Neil Benson was forced into several changes through injuries and non-availability, with Michael Horne taking over in goal, Craig Blakeman and Matt Scott returning to the defensive line, and Chris Onoufriou coming back into midfield.

Despite the changes, Town started quickly and went ahead inside six minutes.

Ibrahim Olutade was fouled on the edge of the box and Benson curled the subsequent free kick around the wall and into the top corner despite the best efforts of the visiting goalkeeper.

Town continued on the front foot, with Sammy Pekun was a constant threat on the right wing.

Andover nearly doubled their lead midway through the first half when Dockree headed goal bound, only for Barnet to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Despite Town's dominance it was the visitors who drew level just a minute before half time.

A long ball from wide left was allowed to travel across the goal and Tom Donaldson was on hand to tap in for an easy goal.

However Andover regained their lead a minute into first half injury time when Benson drove through the midfield and unleashed a stinging effort into the bottom corner to give Andover a 2-1 lead at the break.

Michael Dixon, returning to the Portway after a period with Dartford, replaced Olutade at half time.

Andover again started quickly and extended their lead within two minutes of the restart as Benson completed his hat-trick.

Gunson held up a Pekun cross before setting up Benson to shoot home for Town's third of the evening.

Alresford continued to have half chances and Craig Bryant, a defender pressed into service as a emergency striker, should have done better with a header after getting behind the Town defence.

Dixon and Cocklin both came close before Adam Grange, returning from duty with England Schoolboys, replaced Sammy Pekun on the hour.

Town continued to attack the Alresford goal, as they sought to improve their comparative goal difference with Sholing.

However it wasn’t until 72 minutes when their next breakthrough came.

With Michael Dixon off the pitch repairing his boots, Alex Dockree was pushed forward into the centre forward role and his persistence in chasing a through ball resulted in him beating the onrushing Barnet before regaining his feet to roll the ball home.

Dockree added a second when, three minutes later, Dixon was fouled on the right hand side and the midfielder got beyond his marker to glance Lewis Benson’s free kick into the net.

Michael Donovan, back from injury, replaced Blakeman but, despite further pressure, Town had to wait until the last kick to round-up their scoring.

Benson made another bursting run through midfield, beating several defenders before lobbing the ball over Barnet with an exquisite chip to bag his fourth of the game.

Town now move on to a vital away clash with Sholing on Saturday knowing a win would almost assure a third place finish.