WHITCHURCH United are up and running in the Wessex League Premier Division after they recorded their first win of the season in a 3-1 success over the visiting Bournemouth Poppies last Saturday.

The Jam Boys started brightly against the Dorset visitors and Callum Sweeney hit the post in the first minute.

However, Bournemouth came back into the contest and from a corner a back post header saw them take the lead.

After this Whitchurch dominated and got the goal they deserved, as Sweeney slotted home after being put through one-on-one.

It was left to two second-half strikes from Ryan Lambert to make sure of the win after the break, the second seeing him beat the offside trap.

After the game, Whitchurch manager Carl Bennett said: “I was really happy to get our first three points of the campaign and we could have won by a lot more. Their goalkeeper has made a a couple of good saves and we had a few more great chances.”

On Tuesday night, the Jam Boys made the short journey to Andover to face their near neighbours and in the end had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

The visitors were the first to strike with a goal from Sweeney – his second in as many games.

Andover left it late to equalise as Shane Lock scored six minutes from time.

Even there Whitchurch, could, and should, have won the game, as a ball over the top to Jack McCarthy was taken down superbly well, but he was unable to match this with the finish and missed the target.

Bennett said: “I would have settled for draw before the game, but after I felt we could have won it.

“I like the way this side is coming together now, and we just need to keep playing at the level we are. If we do this we are sure we will pick up more points.”

The result moved Whitchurch up to 16th, and on Saturday they are on their travels to Horndean, who are four places above them.

Then on Wednesday (7.30pm), they return to Longmeadow when 13thplaced AFC Portchester pay a visit.

Overton United have their first home game of the season on Saturday, when they entertain Stockbridge in the Hampshire Premier League. They were without a game last week.