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Epsom & Ewell 3 - 4 Alton

26 Feb 2024

Match report by Dave Hawtin

The scoreline does not reflect the control and dominance Alton had in this game.

Leading 4-1 with 90 minutes completed, the home side somehow scored two goals in injury time to leave hearts thumping around the stadium.

The all-weather surface allowed both sides to play some nice football and the visitors really should have already been in the lead before Ross Stepney towered above everybody else to power an unstoppable header home on 22 minutes.

Further chances came for the visitors. The keeper made a couple of really good blocks and a defender made a really good clearance off of the line before Alton finally extended the lead right on half time. Darnell McDonald who had been a constant threat down the left flank delivered a quality cross to the back post where Pat Cox was unmarked to head home.

During the second half Alton still pressed on but found themselves pegged back when Epsom broke away on the hour and a retreating defender fouled the forward who himself dispatched the penalty clinically.

The two goal lead was restored on 70 minutes. McDonald swept past his marker again and delivered another quality cross which the arriving Hoppitt drove home at the back post.

The game appeared completely over on 85 minutes when Stepney headed home his second goal of the game, but you have to give the home side credit, a deflected free kick reduced the arrears in injury time and just a couple of minutes later a rebound from a fierce shot was confidently slid home.

Fortunately that was the last action of the game. 3 points on the road, but not without a scare that turned the game completely on its head.

Alton return home this Tuesday evening, when Badshot Lea will be the visitors to The Exclusive Networks Stadium in the Aldershot Senior Cup. Kick off 7:45pm.

Match Highlights from Academy TV