HAMBLE CLUB 8, ALTON 0

ALTON suffered a humiliating defeat at Hamble Club on Saturday, conceding seven second-half goals as they capitulated to the Sydenhams League Division One champions.

In the second half, it almost seemed that some of Alton’s players had decided to sun-bathe on a warm afternoon and watch others run around.

Yet it had been a fairly even contest in the first half, with both sides creating half-chances. Gradually, Hamble started to get on top and Matt Petts had to be alert to tip over a shot and then punch away the resulting corner.

The turning-point of the game came in the 43rd minute when Gavin Muir broke free for Alton, only to be unceremoniously bought down on the edge of the area as he prepared to shoot. Controversially, the referee only showed a yellow card and awarded a free-kick rather than a penalty.

Just to rub it in for the Brewers, Sean Hayes’ free-kick was deflected over and, from the subsequent corner, Hamble cleared and Mo Nyang raced away to give Petts no chance and put the champions in front.

No-one could have foreseen the way Alton threw the towel in during the second 45 minutes.

Whatever manager Clive Ventham said at the break obviously didn’t sink in as Alton conceded again in the first minute and Hamble punished further poor defending to score two more before Taylor Watts and Regan Hitch forced the Hamble keeper to make his only real saves of the match.

Hamble showed just why they are champions as they clinically dismantled the Alton defence and scored four more to round off a miserable afternoon for the Brewers. If it hadn’t been for the brave efforts of Petts, it could have been even more embarrassing.

Nyang and Nathan Lynch scored two goals apiece and singles from Jack Barnes and Doug Rowe made it 6-0 before substitute James Thomson grabbed a brace for himself.

With three games left, manager Clive Ventham is likely to ring the changes and will be looking for a reaction when Alton entertain Totton & Eling on Saturday and then travel to Weymouth Reserves on Easter Monday.