ANDOVER Town suffered their second loss in a week after a half time resurrection from local rivals Whitchurch United condemned them to a 2-1 defeat on Easter Monday.

Town, who were thrashed 5-1 by strugglers Christchurch in midweek, took the early lead through first half substitute Danny Urry, who was forced on following a head injury to Michael Dixon.

The 23 rd minute substitute took just 30 seconds to find the net with an acrobatic scissor kick despite an impressive double save by Whitchurch goalkeeper Brendon Norris.

Town continued to dominate in the first half but signs of life emerged from Whitchurch shortly before half time when a Taurean Manders header forced a smart save from Michael Horne.

Town took their narrow lead into the break but it was not a happy half time for Andover who saw Dixon rushed to hospital with a suspected concussion.

However the away side continued to dominate despite the upset and Urry should have bagged his second with a well struck half volley only to be denied by a confident Norris.

The keeper then had a hand in bringing Whitchurch level after his huge throw split Andover’s defence and gave Danny Phillips a one-on-one which he easily dispatched into the bottom right corner.

The goal breathed new life into the home side and shortly after the hour mark they took the lead when Matt Austin was left unmarked inside the box to convert a Taurean Manders cross with a glancing header.

Whitchurch were then left incensed minutes later after Phillips appeared to be bundled over while bursting into the box but the referee was not interested despite appeals and quickly waved it away.

As the game drew to a close, Andover pushed hard to grab an equaliser with substitute Claudio Herbert spurning a glorious chance after he failed to make good contact with a low cross from Ollie Yates.

However goal scorer Urry missed the best chance to bring his side level in the dying seconds after he was put through one-on-one with Norris, but his sliding effort bobbled agonisingly wide.

The result means both Whitchurch and Andover retain their current positions of 5 th and 10 th respectively although Town could drop to 12 th if teams below them win their games in hand.

After the game it was confirmed that Michael Dixon had been given the all clear and he was released from hospital that evening.