ANDOVER had to come from two goals behind to beat an improving Totton and Eling team, writes Patrick Barlow.

Sparsholt Academy goalkeeper Mark Childs was handed a start with Jake Wellesley-David away and Jordan O’Donnell and Toby McCauley also losing their starting positions to Ike Robertson and Lewis Alderman.

Danny Urry and Oliver Yates also returned to the squad after missing the previous Tuesday’s defeat to Folland Sports.

Andover began very quickly with a good attack that saw Michael Dixon’s header saved on the line by Totton keeper Nathan Goodger, and a great ball by winger Yates being rolled across the box only to be knocked wide by Dixon minutes later.

Totton had the best chance to score, when Sam House ran through only to see his shot brilliantly saved by Childs.

The home side had chances, including a pass from Robertson which rolled along the line only for Dixon to agonisingly miss the ball.

Totton took the lead just past then half hour when Connor Thorne’s 20- yard shot flew in. A flurry of goals followed, with Totton scoring again as sub Stu Brown slotted the ball home from a counter attack.

Andover responded when Yates’ freekick was pushed out by Goodger into an oncoming Ryan Inskip, who deflected it home.

A great piece of team play ended in Dixon’s shot flying in on the stroke of half -time.

The second half saw Urry go close before manager Neil Benson made two changes with 20 minutes left, when winger Claudio Herbert replaced midfielder Cameron Hough and Robertson was replaced by McCauley.

This paid off within ten minutes as a scramble in the box ended with Dixon doubling his tally for the day on his 50th appearance for the Town.

Town scored twice more in the last ten minutes with Yates netting from a wonder strike then setting up the last goal, when his free-kick was fumbled by Goodger, which gave Lewis Benson the chance to pick up the scraps.

Town now have a difficult couple of games at Newport and Winchester, before entertaining Bemerton on Christmas Saturday.