News

Balham 1 - 0 Alton

11 Oct 2026

Match report by Dave Hawtin

The pain and frustration of this defeat was etched across the faces of the very decent away following and the players as they left the field of play having dominated all aspects of the game, bar one!

On an absolutely excellent grass surface the visitors dominated possession and territory and created numerous openings with their slick passing.

The two best chances in the first half half fell to Felix Hills who created the opportunity himself with some great footwork on the edge of the box but shot just wide from a really good position.

The second was when the home keeper fumbled the ball from a corner and Alex Lever headed over from close range. He would not have been expecting the error but will know he should have done better.

All square at the break and again the visitors came out on the front foot at the start of the second half. Hills was clean in but lifted a golden chance over the bar.

Out of nowhere the home side stole the lead. Alton’s regular nemesis of allowing free headers from dead balls gleefully punished once again on the hour.

Chances and openings came and went for the visitors. Garlinge clipped over with the keeper well out of position and when Cian Sampson’s thunderous goal bound shot from 18 yards was somehow blocked you just knew it wasn’t to be their day.

As I said at the start of the piece, Alton dominated all of the factors to allow you to dominate but putting the ball in the oppositions net ultimately decides the outcome. Small margins.