ALDERSHOT & FARNHAM LADIES 4, ALTON LADIES 1

ALDERSHOT & Farnham kept pace with Winchester and Haslemere at the top of Division?One.

All three sides won their matches on Saturday, with A&F seeing off a weakened Alton who gave a good defensive performance.

A&F also had to adjust their usual line-up, with Rosie Hudson giving a sterling display at left defender.

The home team were soon stretching Alton on the flanks, although the opening goal came from a slick short-corner routine, Mel Sutherland scoring with a fine straight strike.

The rest of the first half was rather scrappy, but Alton had plenty of possession and there was only that one goal between the teams at the interval.

Coach Mark Robinson sent A&F into the second half with a game plan and the team began to play at their own pace, creating space, making attacking runs and closing down the opposition.

Aldershot’s hard work was swiftly rewarded with a goal from Evie Kenna who popped the ball past the keeper after a reverse-stick cross from Sutherland.

Chances then came thick and fast. Emma Porter had a goal disallowed and a couple of short-corner strikes took unlucky deflections.

Di Taylor eventually made the game safe with A&F’s third goal, cracking the ball in from the left.

Then Louise Laws surprised herself by scoring the fourth with a hit from the edge of the D.

Good goalkeeping and defending had made Aldershot & Farnham work hard for the points and a late spell of Alton pressure was rewarded with a consolation goal, Maya Morrison finding the target two minutes before the final whistle.

There are two big games this Saturday. Aldershot & Farnham visit leaders Winchester, while Alton – still seeking their first win of the season – are home to Haslemere.