News

Alton 2 - 1 Redhill

28 Mar 2026

Match report by Ian Hall

A glorious afternoon at the Exclusive Networks Stadium saw Alton put in a superb all-round performance to beat a highflying Redhill side 2-1 in a very entertaining match, notching up a first home win for the new management.

Despite two wins and two draws from their away fixtures Alton were on a run of three home defeats and the game didn’t start well when Redhill had an early chance deflected wide on 2 minutes and from the resulting corner, Harry Pointing planted a header into the net.

Redhill’s keeper who had an afternoon he will probably want to forget almost let Alton straight back in with a scuffed clearance straight to Hadif Darwysh who’s goal bound shot was blocked. Moments later Darwysh and Matt Benham combined to allow Dawysh a cross which was only cleared back to Benham on the edge of the box, and he lofted a cross shot into the back post. With the keeper back-pedalling, Ed Dryden lurking and the post also fancying an assist, the ball evaded them all and dropped in for an equaliser.

Playing some super stuff with Darwysh’s mazy running, Jamal Branker strong and direct and both Benham and Zac Nash linking things together, Alton thought they had a second when Nash slotted home only for the ref to rule the ball had already gone out. They weren’t to be denied on 17 minutes from another Darwysh cross, half cleared again and Nash swivelled on a loose ball to lash it past the keeper.

Dawysh and Branker then combined on the break to feed in Nash who’s cross shot was saved and Branker also came close with a long-range effort after the keeper fired a horrible clearance straight to him.

With the kitchen reopened after the pyrotechnics and the all-familiar smell of burger wafting over the home support the Redhill players came out for the 2nd half after a roasting of their own and for 15 minutes Alton were hanging on. The pressure was relieved when the hapless Redhill keeper shanked again, this time straight to the on-rushing Nash but the ball cannoned off him just wide. Having weathered the storm Alton were the better side for much of the second half.

Perhaps it was down to the presence of officials with note books but the referee, who had been content to let the game flow in the first half, now did a super job of breaking up the play, finding all sorts of reasons to get his cards out, not least Casey Balfour, busy scuffing the 3G pitch in advance of a goal kick. The official didn’t endear himself to the crowd by then adding back on for his own time wasting and with Redhill pressing for a late leveller and Alton desperate for the final whistle, time seemed to be standing still as the match continued inexorably on past the 99.59 minute mark.

Redhill caused a scare with a lob towards goal that reared up on Balfour requiring a hurried tip over and then the keeper was alert to a through ball racing out to punch clear on the edge of the area, poleaxing Redhills Harrison Parker in the process. When the prone Redhill player eventually staggered to his feet the ref treated him to a rather harsh 2nd yellow and finally blew up for a great and well-deserved home win.

The season finishes with three away fixtures and on this form the side will hope to extend their good away run.

Team: Balfour, Garlinge, Roberts, Holubec, Dryden, Brown, Darwysh, Benham (c), Nash, Branker, Mather subs: Whitby, Llewellyn, Beattie, Fowler, Hill