ALTON 1,

SOUTHMPTN UNI II 1

ALTON came from behind to earn a hard-fought draw at Amery Hill.

Looking for their first points of the season in Hampshire 2, Alton began strongly and good movement off the ball made the Southampton students work hard.

Tom Singleton and James Goulding-Stewart just failed to make the most of early chances.

Southampton had openings of their own, mainly in the form of penalty corners, but Alton’s defence held strong and it remained 0-0 at half-time.

The students upped the pace at the start of the second half and tested Alton’s back line of Scott Reading, Dan Trim and Jonny Dane.

Alton seemed to have weathered the storm when, from nowhere, the visitors grabbed the lead with a rocket drag-flick from another short corner.

The home side dug deep during several minutes of intense pressure and eventually pushed the students back.

Alton finally broke through with some smooth work in midfield to set Singleton free and after initially being denied, the striker picked up the rebound and finished well for the equaliser.

With time running out, Alton almost snatched victory, Singleton being denied by a great save.

Alton, however, were happy to notch up their first point of the campaign.

ISLE of Wight II 1, Alton V 1 (Hants 9). Alton fifths maintained their unbeaten league record with a hard-fought draw on the island.

Joe Tynan, one of three junior debutants, equalised after a goalmouth melee with the last action of the game, but it was no more than Alton deserved.

Harrison Curtis might have scored earlier on a couple of pacey counter-attacks, forcing fine saves from the Isle goalkeeper.

IoW finally breached the Alton defence, but Tynan’s last-gasp goal rescued a point. Josh Cranston won man of the match for an assured debut at the heart of Alton’s defence.