Alton 2 - 1 US Portsmouth

Alton entertained third placed US Portsmouth on Saturday and two goals in the last few minutes gave the Brewers a well earned victory.

It also saw Alton bounce back from only one point in the last four league games. The game, played in rain throughout, was a very tight cagey affair with both defences on top, and it was no surprise that the first half ended goalless.

The chances that both sides created were well dealt with by both keepers. Alton's best chance fell to George Bowerman, but the ball would just not come down for him to make proper contact. It came about when Steve Black shot from distance, the US keeper parried the ball, but it came back to Bowerman at an awkward height and the keeper and defender managed to somehow smoother the ball out for a corner.

The second half was as cagey as the first with neither side on top, and chances at a premium. It looked as though with both keepers on the top of their game, one goal would settle the match. Alton feared the worst when on seventy seven minutes US got down Alton's right and the cross was powerfully headed home by Jeffes. You could see from the celebration that US thought they had done enough and that was the points in the bag. However they weren't prepared for Alton's resilience.

With time running out Alton forced a corner on their left. Matt Benham swung the ball in and for once it evaded everyone and arriving at the far post was Phil Moore, who shot home left footed, for the equaliser.

With their tails up and the game going into injury time Alton attacked with gusto and a fine move involving both substitutes saw Jack Fowler cross from the left and Liam Knight was perfectly placed to plant the ball into the back of the net to send Alton's supporters into raptures.

A well deserved victory, which they will be looking to build on as they head to play Ringwood Town on Saturday. Before that they are at home on Tuesday as they entertain AFC Stoneham in the Russell Cotes Cup.

So much were the defences on top that the match day sponsors Silent Transport of Oakhanger awarded Sean Evans as man of the match.

Squad; J.Courtnage, J.Phillips, M.Graham, O.Graham, P.Moore, S.Evans, S.Black, M.Benham, L.Perkins, G.Bowerman, S.Sanderson
Subs [all used] R.Hitch, J.Fowler, L.Knight