ALTON drew 1-1 against Brockenhurst in the Wessex League Premier Division last Saturday (January 29).

The visitors started the stronger of the two sides, but Alton were prepared to let them have the ball in areas of the pitch where they could not hurt them.

Kieran Greene in the home goal had to be alert to a decent effort from 30 yards out.

Brockenhurst took the lead on 28 minutes when a cross from deep on the right was only cleared to the edge of the box and the visitors reacted first to guide the ball into the far corner.

This seemed to embolden the home side and they started to gain territory. Twice Jack Fowler found himself with good shooting opportunities in the visitors’ penalty area, but he didn’t do enough to work the visiting keeper.

After a nip and tuck start to the second half Alton dominated the last 30 minutes.

Fowler came to life down the right and centre forward Karol Skoczen had a gilt edged chance to equalise when Fowler cut the ball back from the byline but somehow the ball ran way from Skoczen.

With the home defence well on top, Richie Hunter and Matt Benham were now pulling the strings, while Liam Knight and Luke Perkins were using their pace and power to keep the visitors on the back foot.

The deserved equaliser came on 74 minutes. Jamie Phillips and Fowler linked up down the right and Fowler bamboozled the full back before driving into the box and finding Perkins, who gleefully gathered the cross and shot home.

Scott Sanderson joined the game to lend his strength and experience to the attack and the home side pushed hard for a winner.

That it did not come was down to a little bit of bad luck and a superb performance by the Brockenhurst keeper, who kept the visitors in the game.

In the last attack Sanderson won a header at close range, but the Brockenhurst keeper somehow blocked the goal bound effort and as he lay on the ground the ball dropped down into his arms.

A hands in head moments for the home supporters in another good attendance.

Alton drew 0-0 at home to Hamworthy United in the Wessex League Premier Division last Tuesday night (January 25).

The visitors to the Enclosure had only lost twice in the last two seasons, so it promised to be a backs against the wall night for the home side.

While the visitors dominated territory and possession throughout the first half they only created one gilt edged chance. Kieran Greene in the home goal saved from point-blank range after Hamworthy broke away after Alton had themselves created a good chance at the other end when Matt Benham’s shot from 15 yards was blocked by a defender with a brave challenge.

The visitors came out of the blocks quickly in the second half and in a 15-minute spell had three excellent chances to take the lead.

Alton weathered the storm though, and grew into the second half. Neither team scored and the points were shared.