WHITCHURCH manager Carl Bennett has praised the impact of youngster Aaron Jarvis after he bagged the winning goal in their 3-2 win over local rivals Andover Town.

The forward smashed home a low shot in the final 10 minutes of an exciting derby game last Tuesday to earn his side a vital win, which moves the Jam Boys five points clear of the relegation zone.

Bennet was full of praise for the 17-year-old, who has already scored four goals for the club since joining from Basingstoke Town’s Youth Academy.

He said: “He’s made a massive impact.

“He’s miles ahead of his years in terms of his mental ability.

“His approach to the game is quality and I haven’t once seen him be bullied by an older, stronger, more experienced player.

“I can’t praise him enough – he looks like he has been playing at this level for the last 10 years.”

Bennet was also delighted with the result as his side came from 2-1 down to win, despite originally taking the lead through an early Danny Phillips goal.

However the Whitchurch boss was disappointed with Andover Town manager Neil Benson’s assessment of the game after the Town manager claimed his side had ‘controlled’ the match.

Bennet said: “I was disappointed to read Neil’s comments because I felt it was a very even game.

“Over 90 minutes I feel maybe we deserved to come away with the win.

“They had three or four good chances but so did we and I didn’t feel there was much between the two sides.

“I was really happy with how we played and I think it shows that when we want to we can compete with the big boys.”

With Whitchurch now sitting in 19th, five places clear of relegation threatened Alresford Town, Bennet has called for his side to battle now in order to avoid a scrap at the end of the season.

He said: “Our aim for this season is to consolidate, stay in the Wessex Premier League and try to keep the core of the squad for next season.

“I’ve told the boys if they fight for the next five or six games we won’t have to fight for our lives at the end of the season.

“But we know we can beat any team when we want to so there is no reason we can’t push on and finish mid-table.

“If we do that and keep our squad together for next season then we can go on and be a force again and be a team people don’t want to play against.”