23 Dec 2024
Match report by Dave Hawtin
A late equaliser conceded in injury time snatched the three points from Alton on Saturday.
The large pre-Christmas crowd who braved the wind and rain were entertained with a well contested game.
Neither keeper was tested in the opening exchanges, it was proving very difficult in the very windy conditions that were at their worst during the first half blowing into the faces of the home side.
Adam Poynter hit a strike from distance on 16 minutes that just fizzed past the post but that only proved a sighted for his opening goal some 5 minutes later.
Thomas did well to keep the ball on the edge of the Fleet penalty area and teed it up nicely for Poynter to curl a lovely left footed strike from 20 yards into the far corner.
Both sides looked a threat in the attacking third but the weather was the contributing factor to the equaliser.
A corner from the left was well delivered into the danger area and the wind did the rest, blowing it in at the far post.
The squally weather called a little in the second half but both sides were cancelling each other out and defending soundly.
On the hour the hosts lead again. Another corner caused chaos and young Liam Marshall reacted quickest to nudge the ball home.
It was during the next 15 minutes that the home side should have stretched the lead. Poynter and Thomas had shots saved and a super free kick delivered by Matt Benham, just need a touch but evaded everyone.
As the game entered the final stages Fleet threw numbers forward and were rewarded just in injury time.
Alton will kick themselves as they failed to contact a player who strode through the centre of the pitch from well inside his own half and slipped a colleague in on goal to finish well past the advancing goalkeeper. The Alton side were convinced he was off side to no avail.
A really entertaining game in very difficult conditions.
Alton travel to Camberley Town this Saturday before returning home for the first game of the New Year, when Horley Town will be the visitors to The Exclusive Networks Stadium on Saturday 4th January. 3pm kick off.