Title-chasing Alton Town were left to rue a red card for defender Dave Goss after their narrow defeat to leaders East Cowes Victoria on Saturday.

The visitors had every chance of at least levelling the scores as, with the advantage of wind and slope, they threw everything bar the kitchen sink at the Isle of Wight side.

But with 15 minutes to go, centre-half Goss, who had been causing mayhem with his power and size in support of the Town attack, forgot that he had already been booked for dissent and said something distinctly unflattering to the referee.

A red card was the inevitable result and the pattern of the game changed as East Cowes abandoned their blanket-defence tactics and pushed another man up front.

But John Robson's biggest disappointment was not with Goss's dismissal, but with Darren Bach's unavailability.

With his first-choice 'keeper unable to travel, the Alton manager had to ask left-back Micky Street to take over the jersey again.

Street let no-one down, but Alton's momentum was affected and they suffered their first defeat in 18 matches.

"It was nip-and-tuck all the way through, despite our bad start," said Robson. "We plastered them in the second half and when we scored I really thought we could save the game, or even win.

"But at the end of the day we were punished for some bad defence and our failure to take some good chances. By their standards, our front two were off their game."

East Cowes, running out of matches, desperately needed a win and they got a dream start when, within five minutes, Martin Raggett got on the end of a Liam Gearing corner to put his side in front.

Then, on 20 minutes, Jamie White sent Jamie Dyer clear to score with a neat lob.

Alton clawed their way back after that disastrous start. Steve Poulton had a goal ruled out for handball and Jamie Smith missed a close-range chance he would normally have put away with no trouble at all.

Despite relentless pressure from the start of the second half, Alton's bad luck continued, with Poulton hitting the post and having another goal disallowed, and Smith wasting another good opening.

But something had to give and, 20 minutes into the half, after two shots had been blocked in the goalmouth, Smith finally headed home.

However, Goss's departure changed everything. Alton had to defend again as East Cowes pressed forward confidently and Street was forced to make a fine save.

With games in hand, Alton are still strongly placed, but a number of postponed fixtures is leaving them a punishing schedule to finish the season. Their small squad will be tested to the limit.

After their trip to Aldermaston on Wednesday, Alton are home to Andover New Street on Saturday and, on Easter Monday, they entertain third-placed Winchester City.

With the league due to finish on April 20, Alton are bracing themselves for a final run of four matches seven days.

Alton: Street, Ward, Sharratt, Guy, Goss, Dinen, Dyer, Ventham, Savage, Poulton, Smith. Subs (all used) Lloyd, Mealey, Dando.