Yet another Alton Town victory, but Saturday's bruising battle left at least four of their players nursing injuries.

Two of them had to be substituted as Lymington, struggling in the lower reaches of the table, adopted a fairly physical approach to the game.

Nick Guy, Dave Goss and Paul Lloyd suffered the most and when midfielder Lloyd had to go off, it was quite noticeable that Lymington got more into the game.

However, Alton took the lead after just 12 minutes. A ball from the right by Steve Poulton bounced just outside the penalty area and the predatory Jamie Smith hit it on the volley straight into the top corner.

Alton's defence had to work all the harder after Lloyd's departure and they were thankful that Andy Sharratt and Guy were on top of their game.

Rob Savage, Clive Ventham and Jason Dinham also looked in good form, although, inevitably, it was a scrappy game on the bumpy pitch.

The referee played nine minutes of injury time and Lymington goalkeeper Stuart Williamson made two great saves just before the interval to keep the score to 1-0.

Alton should have sewn it up soon after the restart when Smith put over a good cross and Ventham mis-hit his shot when it looked easier to score.

Ian Dyer was having a quiet game by his standards, although one 25-yard drive winged its way just over the crossbar.

Alton had to wait unto the 75th minute before finally making the game safe and it was substitute Mark Dando who set up Poulton to score his 16th goal in six games – a quite remarkable strike rate.

A booking for Lymington substitute Hisham Dovik was long overdue as Alton rode out the rest of a tough encounter.

They were just pleased to score two goals and not concede any – a fifth clean sheet for Micky Street who has struck up an excellent understanding with his defence.

Injuries or not, Alton went top of the league on Tuesday night after thrashing mid-table Hythe & Dibden 5-0.

The conditions were atrocious at the Bass Sports Ground, but Alton were always in command, with goalkeeper Micky Street keeping a sixth successive clean sheet.

Goal-machine Steve Poulton added two more to his tally and there was one apiece for Jamie Smith, Mark Dando and Dave Goss.

Alton entertain Ringwood this Saturday.