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Yateley United 2 - 2 Alton (FA Cup: Extra Preliminary Round)

08 Aug 2026

Match report by Ian Hall

After two late headers earned a spirited Yateley side a 2-2 draw in a match Alton had completely dominated for 75 minutes, the sides will do it all again at the Exclusive Networks Stadium next Tuesday (11th).

Another hot day drew a good crowd of 367 to the Sean Deveraux stadium and though hard, the home turf was in pretty good nick. After their slow start on Tuesday, Alton were at it from the kick off and had pinned Yateley back in their final third before taking the lead on 4 minutes with a well worked goal. Smart interplay down the right sent Jamie Phillips racing past two defenders into the area, before his composed pull-back was perfectly placed for David Garlinge to lash home.

Alton were in no mood to sit back and bossed the play with the pace and energy of David Garlinge and Hadif Dawysh in midfield linking well with Matt Benham’s neat touches. When Yateley had the ball, Alton kept a disciplined shape and harried the home defenders, who never looked comfortable in possession. Anything lumped forward was invariably cleaned up by Ed Dryden with the midfield first to anything loose; in truth the ball spent longer in Alton’s half during the hydration break than it had during play.

Post refreshments, more Alton pressing around the box won the ball back and Zak Nash slipped past two defenders and got a shot away but Hugo Sobte, a decent step 4 keeper, saved well. Shortly after, another neat interchange with Garlinge gave Darwysh room to cut inside and curl a shot over Sobte, only for it to crash back off the bar.

Both Darwysh and Jamal Branker put in dangerous crosses but the home defence stood firm to keep the deficit to one at half time.

After the break Yateley came out with more purpose but without ever really threatening and on 58 minutes Alton scored a 2nd. A quick break put Branker away down the left and he sent over another inviting cross for Nash racing into the box. Yateley’s centre back did just enough to challenge but the ball fell to Darwysh and he slammed in off the underside of the bar.

Yateley’s heads dropped now and it was hard to see them coming back. Sobte diverted a dipping effort over the bar and Benham was bundled over from behind in the box with nothing given - and still Yateley hadn’t had a chance to speak of.

It all changed out of nowhere on 75 minutes when a free kick from 25 yards was buried at the back post by Callum Scott. With the lift from that goal momentum completely switched and Alton rarely got out of their half. Alton did fashion a chance when Nash swivelled and shot, forcing another good save from Sobte but moments later Yateley got their equaliser. A long flat throw into the box was thumped home at the near post by Ben Catt to level the scores and force a replay next week.

Upward, Phillips (Lever), McLean, Garlinge, Dryden, Ahmetaj, Darwysh, Benham (C), Branker (Patterson), Nash, Hill.