ANDOVER Town needed a dramatic late winner from an in-form Michael Dixon to snatch victory from a good Bournemouth Poppies side on Saturday at Victoria Park.

Town manager Neil Benson made five changes from the team that lost to Bemerton Heath Harlequins in the League Cup, with goalkeeper Jake Wellesley-David replacing Mark Childs, defender Joe Woodward being replaced by Matt Scott and Danny Urry giving way to Oliver Yates while Alex Dockree and Cameron Hough were also replaced by Michael Dixon and Ike Robertson.

Neither team was able to make a breakthrough although calls for a penalty came when Dixon fell in the box, but it was the Poppies who created the first real chance as striker Dan Soul’s shot skimmed past the post after a fine pass by Sam Pekun.

The Town were soon on the back foot when a corner by Elliot Ward sailed over almost everybody giving Lamin Dibba the chance to tap home the opener just before the half hour.

Both teams challenged the others’ defence without success, until a freekick by Fawzi Saadi was pushed over by Wellesley-David on the stroke of halftime, leaving the Poppies with a narrow lead going into the break.

The Town started the second half quickly, when ten minutes in, a shot from Dixon flew into the net past Bournemouth keeper Kenny Vaughan to level the score.

Benson looked to give Town some extra energy when he replaced Bradley Benson with Lewis Alderman and moments later Robertson was brought down by replacement Liam Jacobs, who was subsequently booked.

Neither team could break the other’s defence, but when Bournemouth’s Liam Jacobs was sent off for a second bookable offence, the momentum shifted in Town’s favour.

With Andover pushing for a winner, Dockree and Hough were brought on.

However, Andover fans were left until the fifth minute of added time, when a Dockree pass found Dixon whose finish sent the travelling team home with all three points. The result means Town have won three consecutive league games this month and manager Neil Benson hopes they can keep this form going into the Christmas period.

He said: “I’m very pleased to get the three points because we went there with the sole intention of getting the win.

“It’s a testament to the lads that we carried on going into the 95th minute to get the result.

“I’m very pleased we haven’t been beaten in the league in November and I’ve set the boys a target that by Christmas I want to be in the top half of the table.

“That’s where we need to be.”