Alton Reserves 2 - 1 Newport (IoW)

Although having won this reverse fixture 4 - 0 just a couple of weeks ago, Alton were aware that this would be no easy Christmas present from the Islanders - and so it turned out to be with Newport taking a deserved first half lead while the home side struggled to find their feet.

Gradually the Brewers moved into gear in the second half and on sixty two minutes midfielder Gavin Muir played in Olli Graham to equalise. Alton then dominated possession but it looked like their efforts would not be rewarded with all three points. That is until in the ninetieth minute Muir again found some space on the edge of the box, lifted a pass through to player manager Robbie Clayton whose fine left foot drive appeared to be heading for the bottom corner only for the Newport keeper to make the save of the match - pushing the ball away, but into the path of the onrushing Olli Graham to clinch victory.

'Not our best performance over the past two months' said Clayton - but winning while not at our best says something about the togetherness of this group and our aim is to continue to grow' he added.