Alton Town 3, New Milton Town 2

GOALS from Olly Graham, Luke Perkins and Matt Graham saw off a spirited New Milton side as in-form Alton Town made it seven wins in nine games on Saturday.

The game exploded into life in the last quarter as New Milton belied their lowly league position to take the Brewers to the wire in a decent game at The Enclosure.

But the result was enough to put boss Kev Adair’s side to within a point of the leaders in third place in Division One of the Sydenhams Wessex League.

The first half was a bit of a tame affair as neither side was able to create many clear scoring chances, and New Milton were well in the game and looked a threat down both flanks as they kept both Alton full backs on their toes.

The only goal of the first half came on the half hour as Oli Graham ghosted in at the far post to hammer the ball into the roof of the net following good work from George Bowerman down the left edge of the penalty area, and New Milton would have been disappointed to have found themselves trailing at the break.

The second half started in the same manner, with Alton’s high-tempo game on Tuesday night against leaders Hythe & Dibden a possible factor in a somewhat lethargic display.

But little did the large crowd at Anstey Park know what awaited them in the last 20 minutes. New Milton equalised on 70 minutes as an aimless lofted ball into the box made its way to the back post where grateful New Milton striker Jack Cooper was on hand to head home.

And with just seven minutes to go the Brewers were left stunned when New Milton capitalised on an error on the halfway line. Alton gave the ball away unnecessarily and an alert Jack Cooper looked up, saw an opportunity to strike the ball from distance and lifted the ball over Alton goalkeeper Justin Courtnage and into the net much to the delight of New Milton’s travelling faithful.

But two substitutions that manager Kev Adair had made a little earlier proved crucial as they swung the game back in Alton’s favour.

First, Matt Benham’s incisive through ball split the New Milton defence and allowed Perkins to stride through and clip the ball into the net over the advancing goalkeeper.

Then, with two minutes to go and with the wind in their sails, Alton charged forward through Benham who broke down the right and lifted a cross to the back post  where Matt Graham, who had timed his run into the box perfectly, crashed an unstoppable shot into the top right-hand corner of the net to leave the visiting keeper flatfooted.

The result was a little harsh on New Milton but the spirit in which Alton fought back augers well for the games ahead.

Alton Town host Andover New Street at The Enclosure on Saturday (kick-off 3pm) in the Wessex League.

And next Tuesday, October 15, the Brewers take on Hampshire Premier League Senior Division side Bush Hill in the first round of the Russell Cotes Cup (kick-off 7.45pm).

Alton Town: Courtnage, Phillips, Knight, Fowler, Moore, Grindel, Black, Green, O Graham, Bowerman, Perkins. Subs: M Graham, Evans, Benham, Channon, Sanderson.