News

Alton 1 - 2 Badshot Lea (FA Vase: First Round Qualifying)

16 Aug 2026

Match report by Ian Hall

Mackenzie Patterson’s strike just after half time marked the start of a sustained onslaught from Alton but they just couldn’t find a leveller and slumped to a second cup defeat in the week, losing 1-2 to cross-border neighbours Badshot Lea.

With their regular holding midfielders unavailable, Alton brought in Josh Pound who came through the Badshot youth system, whilst the visitors were skippered by George Winkworth alongside Archie Larkham – still with an apparently limitless engine - in defence.

After a relatively quiet opening, Badshot took the lead on 15 mins with a swift counter when Winkworth won the ball on the edge of his box and passed forward to Alfie Edmunds who tore down the right before driving the ball low across goal for Mark Holley to finish at the back post.

With both sides looking to play passing football, there were some neat passages but Badshot always looked dangerous on the break with Edmunds prominent in midfield. He picked David Garlinge’s pocket to send Fareed Hakeem-Habeeb driving into the box; the wingers shot just deflecting onto the post. From the resulting corner a scrambled poke towards Alton’s goal struck the other upright before the rebound was charged down.

Having survived the scare Alton put together some good neat inter-passing revolving around Matt Benham and they had strong penalty claims when space was worked for Garlinge whose shot was handled - the ref deeming it unintentional despite the distance involved.

Shortly after, Alton were undone for the 4th time this week when they lost possession going forward and missing the injured Argjend Ahmetaj’s protection of the back four, were ruthlessly exposed. Badshot countered from the left side of their own box, Hakeem-Habeeb switched play to Stan Jones on the right flank who raced to the edge of the area and stroked the ball across Aiden Upward into the far corner.

The lead could have extended further when Hakeem-Habeeb then crossed for Edmunds who’s powerful header was well saved by Upward just before half time.

For the second match running Alton found themselves two behind but to be fair they gave it a pretty good shot. After a raft of early changes, Patterson’s low driven strike from the edge of the box on 49 minutes gave them a good platform and particularly after the second Infantino break there was only one side in it.

Alton rained in a succession of shots from Patterson, Hadif Darwysh, Emmanuel Acheampong and Zack Nash, a flying header from Acheampong was saved and Nash muscled through defenders in the box but his shot found the side netting. From a corner Ed Dryden’s effort hit the bar and with seconds remaining, the closest of all; Ben Mathews turned his defender and lashed a curling shot that looked for all the world like the equaliser but went agonisingly wide.

Alton will be looking to get back to winning ways again at the Exclusive Networks Stadium on Tuesday 18th, 7.45 ko when they host East Cowes Victoria Athletic in the Hampshire Senior Cup.

Upward, Phillips (Wotton 46), Maclean, Garlinge (Acheampong 46), Dryden, Pound (Matthews 47), Darwysh, Benham, Patterson (Staunton 83), Nash, Hill (Lever 46)