Alton manager Kevin Adair was pleased with his side’s efforts after the Brewers started their Combined Counties Premier Division South campaign with a 1-1 draw at home to AFC Croydon Athletic at Anstey Park on Saturday afternoon.
AFC Croydon’s new joint-owners include ex-Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha and rapper and singer Stormzy, and Adair was happy enough with a point.
“The lads carried out the game plan as I asked and I have to be happy with them,” he said. “We set up well.
“For any neutral watching the game it would have been an entertaining watch – although it was stressful for me.
“We actually played better when it was 11 against 11 – when they went down to ten they made it difficult for us to open them up.
“We do sometimes struggle when teams go down to ten.
“Liam Marshall was very impressive for us when he came off the bench. Croydon will have big plans this season, so I think it’s a good start for us.
“We had one point from five games at the start of last season, so we have to be positive.”
The first quarter of the game was a little cagey with neither keeper tested, but it burst into life on the half-hour mark.
A corner for the home side was delivered into the box and resulted in the referee awarding a penalty for handball.
New signing Pat Cox coolly sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot kick.
On 42 minutes a marauding run by Louis Russell was ended by a crude lunge by Croydon’s Cian McCarthy on the byline. The referee had no hesitation in issuing a straight red card.
With a numerical advantage the home crowd might have expected their side to take all three points, but the visitors were made of stern stuff. Croydon continued to have as much possession as Alton and looked a threat on the break.
As the game entered the latter stages Alton seized the initiative and threatened the goal on three occasions – forcing a couple of good defensive blocks. Joe Sowden found himself free six yards from goal at the back post but he just couldn’t get enough on his effort and the visiting goalkeeper saved comfortably.
The visitors created one late chance as Alton tried to force the game, but the opportunity was fired wide of the far post.
Adam New made his debut for Alton after joining from Isthmian League South Central outfit Badshot Lea on a dual-registration, and Adair was pleased with his new recruit.
“Adam adds to what we’ve got and I’m sure it works for Badshot Lea as well,” he said.
“Pat Cox also offers a lot to us on and off the pitch with his experience, and it is great that he is up and running straight away – even if it was a penalty.”
Attention now turns to Saturday’s game at home to Guildford City in the Cherry Red Records Premier Challenge Cup (3pm).
“Guildford won their first league game on Saturday so they’ve had a good start,” said Adair. “We expect a tough game, but it’s still early in the season.”
Alton’s youth team are in action at Anstey Park tomorrow (Thursday) night when they will host Winchester City’s youth team in the preliminary round of the FA Youth Cup (7.45pm).