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Camberley Town 2 - 1 Alton

12 Apr 2026

Match report by Ian Hall

A missed first half penalty proved costly for Alton as Camberley’s improved showing after the break secured a 2 1 victory, but it was not enough for the hosts as Eversley’s win consigned them to relegation.

Going into the match Camberley needed to better Eversley’s result but if the onus was on them to score, it wasn’t apparent and Alton should have taken the lead from the spot after a clear pull. Zac Nash’s right foot strike was well-saved by the ‘keeper but he could only parry the ball straight back to Nash, this time on his left, and he skied it with the goal gaping.

No doubt aware that Eversley were ahead, Camberley back came out with more intent and took the lead on 47 mins after a poor clearance from a corner, calmly side footed in by Archie Mills. They added a second from a fine through ball and Josh Ewing’s dinked finish.

Alton pulled one back with 20 minutes left from Mackenzie Patterson’s glancing header but despite Matt Benham’s stirring words, which carried to the understandably subdued crowd, the match fizzled out.

If he did indeed follow up his threats in the dressing room, Benham was more relaxed later, reflecting on a job well done. An opening day win at Fleet had supporters dreaming of away days to Winchester and Hartney Wintney but a run of 9 league and cup games without a win left Alton hovering above the drop zone. Benham and Jamie Phillps found themselves with 11 matches to keep the side at step 5, and Benham revealed he had predicted they would need at least 35 points (it was 36!). Facing four on the road and with some 10 players departing, Phillips said they had targeted three must win games - but only managed 1 point from those!

Phillips added they had to work hard initially just to get a side out - “I would wake up thinking I must sign Tommy Whitby!”. It wasn’t until their third match that they felt they had the squad they wanted and a good draw at Abbey Rangers, followed by back-to-back wins away and they were effectively safe with several left to play.

The home win over Redhill, in which just three players started from the reverse fixture in November, shone in a disappointing end to the season but during that run a number of teenagers have played and played very well. Phillips noted you can get away with 3 or 4 but 6 or 7 is a big ask when lacking experience to help them in key moments.

The senior players all stepped up as well. Ed Dryden - supporters’ player of the season, Benham - players’ player of the season, Nash leading the line and linking play effectively and Scott Sanderson back playing week in week out, wherever needed.

The management, coaching and support and of course the players can be rightly pleased with the response to a tricky situation they found themselves in. That several former players came back to help, both on and off the pitch, makes it all-the-more satisfying.

Balfour, Garlinge, Roberts, Wotton, Dryden (C), Howard, Whitby, Benham, Nash, Brown, Beattie subs: Sanderson, Holubec, Mather, Patterson, Collis