Andover Town 6 Alresford Town 1: LEWIS Benson’s four-goal blast kept alive Andover’s hopes of a top three finish as his side ran out comfortable winners in Alresford’s last midweek fixture of 2015-16.

Benson scored the first goal on five minutes, his low free kick squirming through Will Barnett’s grasp to nestle in the bottom corner of the net. The Magpies defended bravely, and although the balance of play was against them they managed to equalise on 43 minutes when Greg Cooper’s left-wing cross was bundled in by Tom Donaldson at the far post.

But in first-half injury time Benson’s diagonal solo run took him past several defenders and into the box. He finished with a powerful drive under the diving Barnett.

On 47 minutes the Andover midfielder completed his hat-trick, arriving in the box at just the right moment to convert after team-mate Charlie Gunson had failed to control a right-wing cross.

With Barnett moved to an outfield position after the loss of Iain Calder through injury, Alex Dockree beat stand-in keeper Dan Martin to a through ball on 72 minutes and slotted into an empty net to make it 4-1.

Dockree’s unmarked close-range header made it 5-1 shortly afterwards. Benson completed the rout a minute from time with a superb solo goal at the end of a dribble from the halfway line.