Alton 4, Trojans III 2

RELIEVED Alton ended a three-game losing streak on Saturday with an important 4-2 victory over Trojans.

The win saw Alton move up two places to seventh in men’s Hampshire 2, leapfrogging Trojans in the process.

The early weeks of 2020 had been tough for Alton and they were hopeful they could get back on track against the visiting Trojans. And they certainly started the stronger, pushing Trojans back and pinning them in their own half.

And soon enough Alton opened the scoring with Tom Singleton setting up Sam Steel, who out manoeuvred the Trojans goalkeeper to put his side 1-0 up.

Alton continued to play some great hockey but Trojans slowly began to grow into the game and test the home side’s defence. And just before half time a Trojans breakaway undid the home defence and the visitors equalised to make it 1-1 at half-time.

After the break, Alton knew that if they were going to end their losing streak they were going to need to really throw everything at Trojans, and it looked like they were up for the challenge.

Right from the off it was all Alton who dominated possession and it was not long before they retook the lead through a great drag flick from Luke Bottomley off an Alton penalty corner.

With momentum now in their favour Alton continued to press their advantage, and their hard work paid off with Bottomley picking up his second of the game with a shot from a tight angle beating the keeper low to his right to open up a two-goal lead.

Trojans weren’t done yet, however, and Alton gave away several penalty corners which resulted in the visitors pulling a goal back to make it 3-2.

Luckily for the home side they managed to steady themselves and press forward. With time running down, Sam Steel finished a great Alton move at the far post, slotting home Alton’s decisive fourth goal and sealing a much-needed victory.

Alton will look to build on this win when they travel to face Havant on Saturday.

*Alton Ladies continued their push for promotion from Hampshire 1 with a comfortable 3-0 win away at Aldershot & Farnham seconds last Saturday. The win, Alton’s 11th in 14 games, leaves them four points behind leaders Wimborne with a game in hand.