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Alton 2 - 0 East Cowes Victoria Athletic (Hampshire Senior Cup)

19 Aug 2026

Match report by Ian Hall

A good night at the Exclusive Networks’ for a much-changed Alton side, both collectively and individually, as a number of players took their opportunity in a 2 0 victory over East Cowes Victoria Athletic in the Hampshire Senior Cup first round.

Luke Turkington’s first five competitive fixtures had seen relatively few changes to a settled side but after back-to-back cup defeats he gave starts to a number of new signings as well as well as some of those who had been coming off the bench. The visitors, fresh from promotion to the Wessex Premier last season, played an inexperienced young side and the sight of a few shady characters near the bushes at the playground end suggested it wasn’t only the two managers casting an eye over those looking to impress.

Tom Kelly was making his debut in goal for Alton, with Alex Lever and Josh Pound forming a new central defensive pairing, shielded by Callum Kenny in defensive midfield. Jamie Phillips, skippering the side switched to the left with Joe Wotton at right back. Mackenzie Paterson was joined in central midfield by Hadif Darwish moving inside, with another new signing, Savion Jung-Shah taking his spot on the right wing. Manny Acheampong started on the left with Ben Mathews at centre forward.

From the first whistle Alton pressed forward and had two shots in the first minute leading to a corner. A trademark cross swung in by Darwysh was headed against the bar by Lever at the near post and when the ball fell back onto the six-yard line, Acheampong reacted fastest to slam the rebound home.

After the great start Alton continued to dictate play with Patterson and Darwysh bright and combining well in the middle and looking to involve Acheampong and Jung-Shah on the flanks. After a neat one-two with Paterson, Acheampong had an effort saved before Darwysh played in Jung-Shah, who roasted his full back wide on the flank before cutting in and curling an effort just over the bar. The new winger, having shown what he could do, was fed repeatedly by Darwysh and Joe Wotton and caused havoc down his flank every time. Both he and Wotton, having an excellent half himself, put numerous crosses into dangerous areas.

In the event the best opening came from some classic route one; Kenny plonked the ball into the mixer, the defence let it bounce, Sav beat the keeper to the loose ball and was unceremoniously hauled down in the box for a penalty. Kenny’s low strike to his left was well enough struck but the stopper atoned for his error with a good full length save.

It was nearly half an hour before the visitors carved out an opening. Their number 8 drove a low hard cross into the box met by Caleb Neale’s near post run but under pressure he couldn’t control the shot which smashed into the solidly-fixed advertising.

A 1 0 half time lead was the least Alton deserved but there was no let-up after the interval and the second goal duly arrived courtesy of a deep, late- dipping Darwysh free kick which beat the Cowes keeper twice, once in flight and then after it had crashed off the far post and he failed to keep the ball out.

With a nice cushion, Alton were largely content to see the match out, proceedings not helped by the ref who spent much of the half belting out Mannfred Mann’s 5 4 3 2 1 but somehow disrupting flow in the process. His booking of Acheampong for time wasting, one stride short of the touchline when running off, was frankly daft.

Kenny had a chance, or two chances, to get himself on the scoresheet with a Gazza-esque flick and shot, which the keeper could only parry back to him but he blazed the rebound over. If it was not his night in front of goal, he and the defensive unit thoroughly deserved their reward of a first clean sheet of the season and the basis for a good win.

Kelly, Wotton, Phillips (C), Pound, Lever, Kenny, Darwysh, Paterson, Matthews, Acheampong, Jung-Shah Subs Hill, Garlinge, Staunton, Brown, Mclean

Alton return to league action this Saturday when they travel to Chipstead. 3PM KO.