THINGS have not gone well for Alton since their heroics against Havant on the first day of the Southern Premier League season. Their long trip to the New Forest on Saturday to face a strong Bashley (Rydal) side resulted in another heavy defeat for the Brewers.

Scott Myers chose to bowl first, hoping for some early movement, and Sean Jamison did beat the bat regularly. When he did find the edge of Josh Digby’s bat, the chance was put down, and it was a Ben Mortimer full-toss, misjudged by Tom Gates, that gave Alton the breakthrough at 38.

Patrick Page, a young Australian fresh off the back of a century the week before, joined Digby and although Alton looked to keep the pressure on, the pair laid a platform with a stand of 89.

With both batsman approaching fifty, Julian Ballinger had Page caught in the deep by Mark Heffernan for 45. Myers dismissed skipper Mike Porter cheaply, Mark Heffernan taking another catch, and Digby fell to off-spinner Ballinger for 51. Bashley 137-4, and Alton sensed an opportunity.

Young Matt Pein, on his first-team debut, dismissed Chris Ridley and Sam Thompson with consecutive balls and the home side were teetering at 158-6.

But Alton were unable to deliver the coup d’état and Mitchell Wilson and Chris Vaughan added 46 crucial runs. Wilson (34 off 35 balls) hit three maximums in the closing overs and Bashley were all out for 240 in the 50th over.

Alton were fairly happy with their work in the field, but batting frailties came back to haunt them as they capitulated in 36 overs.

Openers Alex Hammond and Michael Heffernan started reasonably well against Tom Barber, the former Hampshire and England U19 bowler, who generated real pace.

Hammond pulled him for four, but was then struck on the helmet and, next ball, was beaten by a full-toss that broke (literally) the off-stump.

Barber, with his tail up, had Dan Harris caught next ball and Alton were 19-2. Scott Myers and Mark Heffernan looked to rebuild and saw off Barber and Wilson, but with the score on 60, Heffernan was run out in a mix-up.

Things went from bad to worse. Mark Heffernan drove in the air to cover and Hugo Hammond, after counter-attacking with three boundaries, fell to the returning Barber who then pinned Myers in front for 25 with another quick delivery.

Barber finished his 10-over spell with 4-27 and there was no coming back from 91-6. Alton limped to 117 all out.

Another performance Alton will want to put behind them. They will hope for an upturn in fortunes in the first of the ‘time’ games this Saturday. They host New Milton at the Jubilee Ground (start 11am).

Alton 2nd XI also lost on Saturday, Fawley winning by six wickets at the Jubilee Ground (SPL Div III). Asked to bat, Alton were 99-9 when Tom Green (44 not out) was joined by Shane Moody (12 not out) and their valiant unbroken last-wicket stand of 69 pushed the total up to 168-9.

But it was not enough to beat Fawley. The top order was full of runs, with opener Andy Parratt making 47 and Matt Brown 43, and they coasted to victory in 34 overs. Toby Salmon was the most successful bowler with 2-30 in seven overs.