SALISBURY 1, ALTON 1

ALTON saved a precious point on Saturday, coming from a goal down to draw one apiece away to Salisbury in this Hampshire 2 fixture.

As the season enters its final month, every point is going to be vital for both sides in the fight for survival.

Alton enjoyed early spells of pressure, but the final touch was not there as chances fell to Sam Juncker and Jamie Vincent.

Salisbury were always a threat on the counter-attack and the visitors often found themselves having to defend deep.

It remained scoreless at the interval and Alton began the second half brightly, with the midfield moving the ball around nicely and causing problems for the Wiltshire side.

In the blink of an eye and a moment of madness, Alton suddenly found themselves behind against the run of play. Forbes Hamilton passed back to Pete Harvey, but the ball slipped under the defender’s stick and fell perfectly for a home striker who promptly fired past Lawrence Jones.

Alton were shaken and Salisbury used their new-found momentum to take the fight to the visitors. But Alton rode out the pressure with their customary grit and determination and soon regained their shape.

Approaching the final ten minutes, they threw themselves at Salisbury and the hard work finally paid off. Tom Green, after a driving run down the right wing, put a fast ball across the circle and man-of-the-match Harry Curtis was on hand to get the final touch; 1-1.

It was all Alton in the final minutes and they almost completed the perfect comeback when Harvey managed to slide the ball across the line, only for the goal to be ruled out after Kevin Scowcroft was deemed to have obstructed the goalkeeper.

Alton had to settle for one point, but were just glad that the long drive had not been in vain. They are back home this week for a tough fixture against Isle of Wight.