Alton Town 2, Ringwood 0

IN a game that was played in wet conditions throughout, it was Alton who came out on top courtesy of a Matt Bunyan double.

Saturday’s game got off to the perfect start as far as Alton were concerned, with the home side scoring inside 60 seconds.

The Brewers kicked off, poured forward and Matt Graham sent over a telling cross which was headed home by Bunyan after just 46 seconds to leave Ringwood shellshocked.

The early setback clearly knocked the stuffing out of the visitors and they allowed Alton to dictate play as they looked to increase their lead. A fine move involving Bunyan and Mark Corbett saw Jack Chandler shoot wide, and with Jason Grenham playing slightly further forward than normal, he crossed for Bunyan who headed just wide.

Then a fine flowing move from back to front and left to right found Grenham in space, but his shot was well saved by Gilroy in the Ringwood goal.

With Alton unable to find the second goal despite their pressure, Ringwood slowly eased their way back into the game. They had a cross that came to nothing, Weardon had a shot that was cleared by Ben Williams, then Boyt shot over when well placed.

At the other end, Bunyan headed wide again before the second goal finally arrived.

Adam Allaway played a fine ball through to Corbett who took the ball round the goalkeeper who somehow got back to block his shot. The rebound fell to Corbett again who rolled the ball back in to the path of Bunyan who made no mistake from the edge of the box.

With the wind and the rain beginning to make the game difficult, Lewis Boughton was forced to save from Harris, before a series of Ringwood corners came to nothing as the half-time whistle sounded.

The second half began as not only a battle between the two teams but also a battle against the rain.

Despite the conditions, Alton forced a corner that came to nothing while the Ringwood goalkeeper took no chances and punched clear twice. Liam Knight then had a cross that evaded everyone before Boughton had to be alert to save from Clark with his feet, and Ringwood’s Harris shot wide when well placed.

As Alton hit back, a fine ball out of defence by George Spiers found Bunyan who beat the offside trap but, with Corbett and Matt Brown waiting, his cross was cleared, and the game finished with Boughton making a fine double save to keep Alton’s goal in tact and a first clean sheet for eight games.

On Saturday, Alton travel to Andover Town in Division One of the Sydenhams Wessex League.

nAlton Town were left shellshocked as they conceded eight goals at home to Christchurch on Tuesday night to crash out of the Russell Cotes Cup.

Leading 2-1 after just 12 minutes courtesy of goals from Matt Bunyan and an own goal, the Brewers were totally unprepared for what happened in the final 75 miuntes as Wessex League Premier Division side Christchurch took complete control.

Christchurch turned the game on its head to lead 4-2 at half-time before adding four more goals in the second half to complete an 8-2 rout and ease into the next round. Shaun Prentice scored a hat-trick, Max Wilcock scored twice, and James King, Jack Satterley and Bradlery Cherrett netted.

nAlton Town have been drawn away to Baffins Milton Rovers in the quarter-finals of the Sydenhams League Cup.