Three points and three goalkeepers for Alton was the story of the day at the Bass ground. Dan Hill having returned from one injury succumbed to a different muscle injury after half an hour and was replaced by Luke Theakston from the bench. Luke was then involved in a clash that resulted in a broken leg (see Chairman's Blog below) with fifteen minutes remaining so up stepped striker Mo Mlambo to don the gloves and the green shirt and perform with equal distinction as both his predecessors.

It had been an even, if sometimes disjointed, game to that point although the visitors had pressed forward in the second half, winning a number of corners dangerously delivered but without getting too much on target.

Following Luke being stretchered off and with the recently introduced Richard McCann taking over from youth player Callum Burch aided by fresh substitute Jonny Gray Alton found a new lease of life and suddenly seemed determined not to be happy with a draw and drove forward in determined style. A flowing move was brought to an abrupt end with a foul 6 yards outside the visitor's penalty area on 86 minutes. The resultant free kick saw the left boot of Richard McCann being true and low to the keeper's left, nestling in the corner of the net.

With the home crowd crying out 'time ref' the players had other ideas and put the game to bed in the fifth minute of added time when that man McCann again got himself in the right place to drive the ball home from inside the six yard box following persistent pressure on the visitor's defence.

Jim McKell

Alton Town’s first league win was marred on Saturday afternoon when substitute goalkeeper Luke Theakston sustained a broken leg in a nasty challenge with a Blackfield striker. Theakston who had earlier replaced the injured Dan Hill 30 minutes into the game was replaced mid way through the second half by striker Simba Mlambo.

Two late goals from Richard McCann, the first a sweetly struck home into the bottom right hand corner direct from a free kick from 25 yards and the second smashed home from 6 yards with 5 minutes to go saw Alton home. The introduction of the experienced Jon Gray and McCann after the injury seemed to galvanize the home side who raised there game and the last 25 minutes was spent in the visitors half as they dominated possession attacking down both flanks.

The first half was a bit of a non event as both defences looked solid and snuffed out the threat from both attacks without any worthwhile attempts on goal.

The second half started at a pace and in one attack Theakston saved well low to his left pushing the ball onto the post and away for a corner, as Blackfield pressed they forced a string of corners that Alton defended well, one attempted clearance clipping the crossbar as the home side dug in for the result.

Dave Hawtin