THERE was much talk of a 'basement battle', 'six-pointer' and 'a must win game' before Alton's league encounter with fellow strugglers Dorking at Anstey Park on Saturday.
Players and coaching staff knew that victory for the home side would all but guarantee their League 3 status for another season.
Yet, the mood amongst players and supporters after their hard-fought victory was strangely downbeat; perhaps this is testimony to the fact that while Alton have won games and almost averted relegation, they have somehow failed to achieve the standards they have set for themselves.
And a hard-fought victory this most certainly was – at times rather too hard-fought as tempers frayed. Alton over-turned a half-time deficit to subdue a Dorking side that played for 75 minutes with 14 men.
The lunch guests had barely finished their dessert when tight-head prop Lee Kane was dismissed for stamping, an incident that few of the spectators claimed to have seen but was clearly spotted by referee Steve Carter.
This setback seemed to galvanise Dorking who pressed early on, but their only reward was a 31st penalty by Tim Henderson when the home backs strayed offside.
Alton's response was almost immediate as scrum-half Gareth Evans scored his seventh try of the season following a five-metre scrum.
Once again, Dorking responded positively and retook the lead on the stroke of half-time when flanker Mark King crashed over, after excellent approach work from his fellow forwards. Both sides missed their conversion attempts and the game reached halfway delicately poised at 8-5 to the visitors.
Alton continued to struggle to make their extra man count and even when Kevin Wilson's pick-up and drive restored their lead shortly after the interval, Dorking had a swift reply. A regulation switch in the backs allowed full-back Owen Keenan to canter over for his side's second try.
To Alton's credit, they continued to exert pressure although they lacked fluency and cohesion going forward. Jon Frith levelled the game at 13-13 ten minutes from the end with a penalty and this was the cue for a late assault on the Dorking rearguard.
The breakthrough duly arrived three minutes later. Mr Carter, clearly irritated at repeated Dorking infringements at set-pieces, awarded Alton a penalty try after a trundling 20-metre drive was illegally pulled down.
Adam Baker, who is leaving the club to explore the wilds of New Zealand, was given the honour of converting the try, giving his side a seven-point advantage entering the final five minutes.
The game deteriorated towards the end as frustrations boiled over, but Alton held their nerve to secure two more crucial points.
With tough return fixtures against Barnes, Jersey and Guildford still to come, Alton skipper Paul Moran and coach Tom O'Connor will be pleased to have points in the bag and safety almost secured.
Alton: Law; Chant (Smith), Johns, Leishman, Carter; Frith, Evans; Bailey, Kerr, Hellier; Moran, Hopkins; Green, Wilson (Ford), Baker.
Tries: Evans, Wilson, penalty try. Yellow cards: Baker, Hopkins.