ALTON FC 3, ROMSEY TN 2

ALTON signed off their home programme with a backs-to-the-wall victory against a Romsey team that, before kick-off, still had hopes of promotion from the Sydenhams League Division One.

It was no surprise then that Romsey started on the front foot, with Tom Ashton having a shot blocked. But Alton showed their threat on the counter-attack as Danny Knee skinned his full-back and keeper Jordan Westbrook only just beat Matt Jackson to the final ball.

Romsey kept Matt Petts busy in the home goal and it was rather against the run of play that Alton took the lead. Knee again beat his man and this time his cross was turned in by Callum Burch.

Alton now enjoyed a period of pressure and although Romsey nearly caught them too far up the pitch a couple of times, the Brewers doubled their lead.

Jason Grenham’s throw-in was knocked onto Scott Sanderson who laid the ball off for Burch to score his second goal from close range.

Alton made a flurry of further chances, while Romset almost pulled one back from a free-kick, Joe Clarke clearing off the line after a melee.

The visitors stepped up a gear and an unmarked Pearce Farren headed over the top. Then Petts saved bravely at the feet of Tom Donaldson after he had been played in by Dan Fox and the goalkeeper’s long clearance led to Burch’s hat-trick.

Sanderson flicked the ball on and Burch managed to skilfully lob Westbrook before being ‘taken out’.

Petts made a fine double save from Ashton and Brett Stanley as Alton took their three-goal cushion into half-time. But Romsey were far from finished and rang the changes to excellent effect. Substitute Jack Odam went close twice in quick succession and then Odam found the target to give his side hope.

It certainly spurred on Romsey and Dan Fox got them right back in the game when he swept home a cross by Stanley.

With the game finely balanced, Burch went round the keeper, only to slip, and Sanderson saw a shot deflected wide. In between, Petts made two more vital saves, while Grenham got in a timely clearing header.

Mark Taylor was unlucky not to win a penalty for Alton, while, at the other end, Matt Graham headed off the line to deny Romsey an equaliser.

Alton travel to US Portsmouth this Saturday in their final game of the season and hope to pull off an upset against the fourth-placed side.

Alton: Petts, Grenham, Graham, Thomas, Taylor, Clarke, Knee, Chandler, Burch, Sanderson, Jackson. Subs: (Allaway (used), Hassell, Corbett.