Another youthfull Alton side paid for not taking there chances against an organised Hamble side at the Bass sports ground.

A sign of things to come for the home side came early on as first Ryan Justice and then Sam Knight mised one on ones with the hamble keeper with just 5 minutes on the clock. Hamble took the lead mid way through the first half when a shot from the edge of the box looped over Luke Theakston into the corner of the net.

Alton threatened down the left as Alex Lowley twice In quick sucession flashed crosses across the face of the goal from the left hand side but no one could get the final touch.

A change of shape to three at the back showed Alton's intentions as the second half started, and these were nearly undone 5 minutes in when Hamble were awarded a penalty for a challenge by Theakston, who having been booked got up to save well down to his left. This spurred the home side on and they quickly equalised as Knight stooped to head home as Alton again got behind the Hamble down the left flank.

Chances went begging as Burch and Moore missed the target when well placed as Alton dominated forcing Hamble deeper and deeper backwards, but then out of nothing a long clearance caught the Alton defence square and a Hamble striker ran clear before finishing well past the on rushing Theakston. Alton continued to poor forward and Hamble defended desperately such that they finished the game with 10 men as they resorted to a physical approach to quell the tide and ran the clock down for a hard fought win.