EAST COWES VICS 1, ALTON FC 4

ALTON finally took some of the many chances they have been creating to record an emphatic victory in this Wessex League Cup second-round tie.

The Brewers had travel issues for the trip to the Isle of Wight, but the personnel and formation changes seemed to make them a tighter team and they outplayed East Cowes Vics on a hard and bobbly pitch.

At first, it looked like it was going to be another one of those wasteful days as Matt Bunyan, Gavin Muir and Callum Burch missed decent opportunities and then Vics snatched the lead.

The ball was played through to Jimmi Burton who looked suspiciously offside, but ran through to slot past Matt Petts.

A Matt Graham free-kick was headed agonisingly wide by Bunyan and Alton trailed 1-0 at half-time.

Wise words must have delivered at the interval because Alton soon drew level. Good work from Joe Clarke on the left was followed by a fine cross and this time Bunyan made no mistake with his header.

Alton were now in the ascendancy and Vics keeper Will Hunt pulled off a fine double save to deny Bunyan and then Muir. Petts made a fine save of his own to tip over a rasping drive by Burton.

The visitors then made a double substitution, with Reece Colbourne and Danny Knee coming on, and soon Alton had the lead. Colbourne robbed the full-back as he tried to shepherd the ball out of play and Mark Corbett eventually crossed for Knee to volley home.

Alton went for the jugular and Knee and Bunyan went close before Corbett scored the third from the penalty spot after he had been bought down.

Finally, Clarke’s corner found an unmarked Bunyan whose flicked header beat the floundering Hunt.

More cup action for Alton this weekend as they travel to play Hellenic League outfit Abingdon United in the FA Vase.