CITY OF PORTSMOUTH II 1, ALTON 9

ALTON swept lowly City of Portsmouth aside to continue their storming start to the Hampshire 3 season.

The visitors set a hot pace that clearly unnerved City and Alton took control with early goals from Martin Kercher and James Goulding-Stewart, the latter showing real determination to force the ball over the line.

Alton continued to pile on the pressure and Scott Reading calmly converted a penalty flick. Before half-time, man-of-the-match Jason Smith hit the backboard with a bullet shot and Goulding-Stewart, although losing his footing as he rounded the oncoming keeper, somehow scored with a one-handed reverse shot to make it 5-0.

To their credit, City refused to lie down in the second half and Alton met much stronger resistance.

Even so, Stuart Gagen scored an individual goal and Tom Singleton struck home powerfully for Alton’s seventh before the home side replied with a deserved consolation goal.

Alton replied with two more goals, Dan Trim and Reading both on target from penalty corners, and it should have been double figures in the last few minutes as Singleton rounded the keeper, only to drive the ball wide of a gaping goal.

Four consecutive wins for leaders Alton who host Yateley this Saturday.