SHANE Lock was the hat-trick hero as Andover Lions continued their encouraging pre-season programme with a thrilling 6-4 win over Wessex League side Laverstock and Ford.

The Lions dominated the early play with Jazz Beavis slotting home on 11 minutes to give them the lead.

However, Laverstock pulled level on 20 minutes with a pacey breakaway down their left.

Lions continued to look dangerous going forward and the in-form Lock restored the lead before the half hour after Scott headed a free-kick back across goal.

Laverstock quickly drew level again with Lions appealing in vain for an offside flag that did not come, before Lock had a 20-yard effort tipped behind by the busy Laverstock keeper.

Just before the break Lock grabbed his second to put Lions back in front when he pounced upon the keepers’ parry from a 25-yard shot from Tommy Stringer.

The start of the second half saw Laverstock pushing hard for an equaliser and Dan Magee made an excellent save to keep his in front.

Beavis went close with curled freekick but within a minute Laverstock had broken down the field and equalised to bring the score to 3-3.

Beavis was again unlucky when his lob was cleared by a last-ditch clearance.

However, Ollie Yates was next on the score sheet after his goalbound shot ricocheted in off a defender.

Five minutes later Lock sealed his hat-trick after opening up the defence with a sublime flick to give Lions a two-goal advantage.

Laverstock weren’t finished though and scored their fourth on 70 minutes when Lions failed to clear their lines.

Yates then completed the scoring eight minutes from time when Alex Wright calmly rolled a free-kick to the unmarked winger.

After the match Lions’ manager John Smith was delighted with the performance. “That was our best display so far and we can all be very pleased,” he said.

“Laverstock are a good established Wessex League team and we have just beaten them on their own pitch and scored six in the process.

“We look very dangerous going forward and Shane Lock was outstanding.

“We’ve now scored 14 goals in three friendlies and we will be looking to keep that level of scoring when we start the season at Sway.

“There is a good team spirit developing here and winning matches like this can only help – we need to take that going forward.”