Alton manager Kevin Adair was satisfied with his side’s performance after they beat Sheerwater 2-0 in the Combined Counties Premier Division South on Saturday.
Owen Tanner and Jamie Hoppitt scored in the second half to give the Brewers the three points at Anstey Park.
“We had a way we wanted to play and some would say it wasn’t very pretty but we felt that was how we were going to get three points,” said Adair.
“We needed to get back on track by any means and that’s what we did.
“You wouldn’t have wanted to pay to watch some of the football we played.
“We felt we were physically stronger than them in terms of aerial ability, so we thought why not use it.
“We probably had 25 set pieces and we probably should have scored more.
“If we’d have scored in the first half it may have been a bit of a bigger scoreline, but it doesn’t really matter.
“They’re a new side – they’ll trouble some teams but I felt the way we set up was the way to win the game.”
Alton made use of Pat Cox’s aerial ability throughout the match, and Adair said it was a deliberate tactic.
“He’s aerially dominant against senior players as well,” said Adair.
“We felt it was a way that we would get a lot of chances, and we did. I thought they defended well and we probably weren’t decent in front of goal where we could have been, but we can’t be frustrated.
“Coming in at half-time at 0-0 when we could have been two, maybe three up, you just have to keep at it and we did.
“Where we’d gone a bit more direct it did allow us to then play a little bit more in the second half. We did get the midfielders involved more, we played through the thirds, we got the wide lads on the ball as well and we looked like we enjoyed ourselves a lot more than the first half, but they did what they were told and that’s all I can ask for.
“The first goal’s a bit scrappy how we got it, but we got it. The second one is a great pass and a great finish – probably the best bit of football of the game from us.”
Alton had a number of players unavailable for Saturday’s match, but Adair was pleased with what his side produced.
“We’ve got to be careful, I’ve got nine out at the minute and they’re all arguably people who would start in the side, but again we’ve showed we’ve got a good group,” said Adair.
“Ollie Kavanagh got a start in midfield – we’re always using the lads from the under-23s so we’re doing some really positive stuff and it’s good for the future.”
Saturday’s win followed a 5-0 defeat at home to Bedfont Sports in the Premier Challenge Cup last Tuesday night (February 6).
Alton will host Horley Town in the Combined Counties Premier Division South on Saturday afternoon (3pm).