Match report by Steve Lynch, First Team Manager

On Saturday Alton travelled to Moneyfields who recently beat us 6-3 on the bank holiday Monday; Moneyfields had written an article in the Local Portsmouth News by their manager, which said they were guaranteed the 3 points, how wrong they were.

Alton started brightly and played some attractive football, with Rich McCann up front alongside PA and Corbett over on the right side of midfield it gave a good balance to the team. PA was a handful for the old and slow back line of Moneyfields and had the first chance of the game within the first ten minutes which PA scuffed his shot and didn’t trouble the moneyfields goalkeeper.

Moneyfields also played some good football but for the first 45 minutes were reduced to playing the ball around in the middle of the park and not being able to trouble Dan Hill in the Alton goal. It was with 28 minutes gone that Alton took the lead some good play in the middle of the park by Gray, Gegeoghan put in a nice through ball to Corbett on the right who was unmarked and ran through to slot past the oncoming Moneyfields Goalkeeper to send Alton 1 – 0 up and a deserved lead going into the half time interval.

The Brewers tails were up in the half time interval and for the first time this season came out and took the game to Moneyfields, some good play between Corbett, Prothero & Rayner sent Pa through one on one with the Goalkeeper. The ball was bouncing around and PA was unable to get the ball down, in the end PA seemed to be tripped up by the penalty spot as the chance went begging.

From there on play opened up and Alton had a few more chance on goal with Rayner coming the closest with a 20 yard attempt on goal which just saw it go past the up right of the goal. Moneyfields then had their first shot on goal in the 75 minute of the game and started to but the Alton defence under some pressure however the Alton defence of Prothero, Hibbert, MgGavin and Chalurton stood like a rock and some good saves from Hill kept the score to 1 – 0.

With 10 minutes remaining the tie was summed up with a nice through ball to the on rushing Matt Rayner which saw him one on one with the keeper which Rayner slotted home comfortable to send the brewers 2 – 0 up and the 3 point on the way back to Alton.It was only in injury time did moneyfields get a consolation goal back which the 1 man and his dog that had stayed to cheer on moneyfields cheered I think!

The game finished 2 – 1 to Alton Town. The boys played outstanding today, they played football, defended extremely well and played as a unit. If we can carry these positives into the next games going forward then we will continue to do well.

Match report by Clive Ventham, First Team Manager

Alton completed a good week, following victory in the league cup Tuesday night with a comprehensive victory at Moneyfields.

The game started well, with Alton enjoying more of the ball and competing well on a hot afternoon. The re -shuffled defence of Hibbert, Mcgavin, Chourlaton and Sean Prothero (who was called in late due to illness of Sean Burton) all showed composure on the ball as Alton returned to the passing game that had proved successful earlier in the season. And with Connor solid and moving the ball well in the middle of the park, Alton looked a far better unit than they had in past weeks.

The first chance of the half fell to Corbett, who had moved to the right hand side of midfield but his shot was well saved. The first half followed a similar pattern with Alton enjoying long spells of procession and the home side getting more frustrated and reverting to a long ball game which the visitors coped with, and was a tribute to the work rate of the Alton side . The opening goal came on the half hour, when a tremendous 40 yard ball from Connor, found Mark Corbett in behind the square home defence, with still some work to do Corbett drew the keeper out and slid the ball past him to give his side a well deserved lead. Alton continued to dominate and created another great chance when the impressive Pa Kinteh evaded a couple of challenges in the penalty area only to see his shot brilliantly saved be the impressive home keeper. Alton had to be happy going into the break leading 1 – 0.

In the second half the home side stepped up a gear and managed to retain the ball better, but again found it hard to create any chances and Alton continued to threaten but more so on the break as the half wore on. The first save Dan Hill had to make come on the hour mark, when a well directed header was superbly tipped over the bar. The home side then had a long range effort which flew over the bar, but with pace on the break Alton could have increased the lead when Pa went through one on one with the keeper only to loose his footing at the last moment. As the game entered the last ten minutes Alton’s two substitutes combined, with a great pass from Marcus Moore being converted by Mat Rayner. Alton seemed to be heading to a comfortable victory but in true Alton style they conceded a needless free kick and then failed to mark up, and gifted a goal to the home side. But to there credit Alton saw the rest of the game out without any real scares, to record a great away victory.

Everybody deserves credit for a great performance, but a special mention to Sean Prothero who stepped in at full back at late notice and produced an outstanding performance.

Team: Hill, Prothero, Hibbert, McGavin, Chalurton, Corbett, Ferris, Gegeoghan, Gray, McCann, Kinteh. Subs Used: Rayner, Moore & Ventham.