At this stage of the FA Cup last season Alton pulled off an astonishing victory at Sutton, but there was to be no repeat of success over higher ranked opposition this time as a superb second half comeback was to no avail with Fleet snatching victory in the closing minutes to deny the Town the replay their performance certainly deserved.

And all this after Alton got off to the worse possible start going behind inside the first three minutes. Fleet looked full of confidence kicking down the slope and when Luke King floated a diagonal cross into the area the defence was static as Sam Knowles, who was at Fleet Spurs last season, guided the gentlest of headers past Craig Atkinson from the edge of the six yard box.Lee Riddell wss too high with a free kick from the edge of the area and Alton were very much on the back foot as Craig Davis sent King away again with the cross being deflected for the first of three corners in quick succession that were largely wasted by the home side. Steve Brown made a break for Alton, albeit from a position that had more than a hint of offside about it, but the cross was cleared for a corner from which the same player’s header was wide. But Fleet were soon back on the attack and increased their lead after twenty minutes when the influential Davis crossed from the right and James Pilgriim beat Atkinson from close range. Conor Geoghegan caused some concern in the home penalty area with a huge throw and after Alex Frostick had headed wide at one end Scott Sanderson suffered the same fate at the othe, some loose play in midfield allowed Brown to break with home skipper Lee Riddell saving his side with a last ditch tackle that also saw him injured and sadly leave the field on a stretcher. Alton replaced the limping Sanderson with Sam Knight, Fleet got the ball in the net again but the flag was up early for offside and Alton slowly but surely worked themselves back into the game. Ian Dyer’s flick from Brown’s cross bounced off a defender by the post with appeals for handball denied and two more huge Geoghegan throws induced various states of panic in the home area before Alton finally got their reward in the time added on for Riddell’s injury. They were awarded a somewhat soft free kick on the corner of the area, Fleet only partially cleared the ball and when it was returned into the middle Brown beat the advancing Smalley to make the half time tea taste a little sweeter in the visiting dressing room.

Alton started the second half as they had finished the first with Simba Miambo sending Brown away but the angle was too acute, Miambo then offside and Brown being inches too high at the far post following a wonderful run and cross by Ian Clothier. Josh Brown was penalised on the edge of the area but Pilgrim’s free kick was straight at Atkinson’s midriff before Alton’s pressure told with the scores levelled after ten minutes. Again it was a Clothier cross from the left that created the danger, Miambo headed the ball back across goal Brown’s volley flew past Smalley. Knight shot straight at Smalley when a cross might have been a better option and a Brown cross found no takers in the area before Alton, against the run of play, found themselves behind again. King, not for the first time in the afternoon, was allowed to carry the ball from deep into the area and though Atkinson blocked the shot Knowles was quickest to react and turn the loose ball into the net. To their credit Alton refused to lie down and within ten minutes were level again. Gavin Miller went through the back of the Brown on the edge of the “D” collecting a yellow card for his pains and then saw insult added to injury as Ian Dyer’s free kick flew low past Smalley’s left hand and into the corner of the net. The keeper then made a superb save to deny Knight before King galloped clear again with Knowles seeing his shot from the cross blocked by a defender. Unfortunately Alton had failed to learn from the afternoon and when King yet again was allowed far too much space his cross found Pilgrim and the home side were back in front. Led by the indomitable Brown the visitors tried to come back for a third time but Clothier was too high and a glancing header from the skipper drifted just the wrong side of the post before the final whistle brought Alton’s involvement in this Season’s FA Cup to a close.

It really was a case of so near yet so far for Alton, and they deserve immense credit for twice coming from behind.but if they can repeat this display in the League matches to follow they could have a very enjoyable season.

Report by John Gorman