ALTON’S alarming slump in the Premier Division of the Southern Electric League continued last Saturday as they lost to fellow strugglers Burridge at The Ridge.

And again it was Alton’s batting that let them down. The first half of the day had gone so well for the Brewers as they restricted the home side to 127 all out. However, weakened by injuries and unavailability, Alton fell 29 runs short in reply.

Stand-in skipper Julian Ballinger’s decision to bowl first proved well justified, with Toby Salmon and Ben Mortimer reducing Burridge to 42-4.

A stand of 42 between Lee Savident and Geoff Dods got the innings back on track for a while, but the bowlers were always on top and Michal Salmon and Ballinger ran through the later batting.

Ballinger cleaned up with 3-14 in seven overs and Burridge were dismissed for a seemingly inadequate 127 in the 41st over.

Alton debutant Hugo Hammond lasted only two balls and although brother Alex Hammond looked composed and got the score moving, wickets continued to tumble.

Dan Stancliffe and first-change bowler Dods were a real handful and when Hammond was adjudged caught down the leg-side for 29, Alton had slipped to 51-5.

The innings fell apart and the visitors collapsed to an embarrassing 65-9, destroyed by Stancliffe’s superb swing bowling.

A last-wicket partnership between Mark Heffernan (20 not out) and Ballinger gave Alton a little hope, but in the 34th over the captain was caught and bowled by Dods and they were all out for a sorry 98. Stancliffe finished with exceptional figures of 6-34 in 17 overs.

It doesn’t get any easier for the Brewers as they travel to second-placed Havant on Saturday.

There was much better news from the second XI.

Alton seconds registered only their second win of the season in Division?Three and their surprise success against leaders Trojans will revive hopes of beating the drop.

Put in at the Jubilee Ground, Alton were soon 20-2 but recovered to post a competitive 152 all out. Andy Pearce and the returning Ryan Hale added 45 for the fourth wicket before Richard Anthony continued his good form in the middle order with a vital innings.

Anthony made a composed 40 not out, well supported by Tom Paul, but Jordan Wright brought the innings to an abrupt end, taking 5-13 in 7.4 overs, and Alton’s total hardly seemed likely to challenge the Southampton side.

Trojans came out all guns blazing, but Alton stuck to their task and Steve Ball (4-32) removed four of the top five in a fine spell of seam bowling.

Dan Trim took a wicket with his first ball and with Trojans 73-5 the game was in the balance.

Alton turned to spin and Tom Paul and Robbie Pitts-Mellan excelled on the dry surface, first checking the run rate and then turning the game in the home side’s favour.

Paul (3-14) ripped through the lower order and Pitts-Mellan (2-10) took the last wicket, leaving Trojans all out for 100 in 33 overs. The result proved that, on their day, the second-string Brewers are a match for any side in the division.