Alton 3, Fareham III 5

GUTSY Alton gave unbeaten league leaders Fareham a run for their money in a hard-fought clash on Saturday. But despite their efforts, they saw their four-game winning streak in Hampshire 2 come to end.

From the off Alton made it known to the visitors they had no intention at all of backing down as they closed down Fareham’s early attacks and had a good spell of possession of their own.

Fareham moved the ball around well as expected but couldn’t seem to find a suitable gap to break through Alton’s midfield.

Slowly but surely Alton absorbed the visitors’ attacks and began to make their way up the field, building pressure of their own. And with the whole team working hard it was Alton who drew first blood as Tom Green beat several Fareham tacklers down the right wing before driving toward the visitors’ circle and squaring the ball to Pete Harvey, whose first-time strike proved too much for the Fareham goalkeeper.

Fareham were clearly rattled finding themselves in the unfamiliar territory of being behind and immediately put pressure on the home side. And Fareham got themselves on the scoreboard when Alton’s hard-working defence had a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing a skilful forward to squeeze between several players and slide home the equaliser to prove just how dangerous the leaders could be on the counter.

Although both teams were still playing well it was Fareham who crucially led going into the break, thanks to a penalty corner goal just before half time.

Alton certainly looked like they meant business at the start of the second half as they immediately put pressure on the Fareham back line, with forwards Tom Singleton, Sam Steel and Sam Juncker giving the visitors cause for concern.

And they were rewarded with a second equaliser as they caught Fareham on the hop with a fine counter attack, Steel finishing the move with a reverse-stick strike into the top left corner after being fed by skipper Nigel Downing.

Having drawn level again, Alton camped in the Fareham half looking for a third goal – which they duly did.

It followed a spell of Alton pressure which saw the home side drive into the Fareham circle and a scramble for the loose ball ensued. A chance fell to Singleton who couldn’t get enough on the ball to tuck it past the Fareham goalkeeper, but the ball fell to Downing who was on hand to tuck home the rebound to put Alton 3-2 ahead.

The third goal galvanised Fareham and Alton knew they were in for a tough final 20 minutes, and despite defending doggedly, the constant pressure took its toll on the home side.

The scores were level again at 3-3 moments later as a hard-working Fareham forward latched on to a seemingly hopeless cause before squaring the ball for a teammate to convert. And Alton found themselves behind soon after, conceding a drag-flick goal after a series of penalty corners.

At the other end, a huge chance fell to Juncker who rounded the Fareham keeper but was denied by a rallying defender.

Fareham finally put an absorbing game to bed when a straight strike from the top of the circle sailed past the Alton goalkeeper.

* Alton to return to Hampshire 2 league action away at Bournemouth III on January 12, after the Christmas break.