ALTON’S woes continued as they slumped to defeat at bottom side Andover on Saturday.

A victory would have all but secured the Brewers’ place in the top flight of the Southern Premier League for another season, but they were to endure another frustrating afternoon, starting from when Scott Myers lost the toss and the visitors were inserted on a tacky surface at London Road.

Soon, Alex Hammond received a brute of a delivery from Mike Adams and was caught off his glove.

Abeed Janmohamed and Dan Harris negotiated the uneven bounce and took Alton to a promising 79-1 before the latter was caught off a pull shot for 35.

Janmohamed fell soon after for 32 and Alton were wobbling at 83-3 and later reeling at 111-6.

Thereafter, Mark Heffernan shored up the innings as Glyn Treagus, Matt Hooper and Ajeet Dale threatened to polish off the late order in quick time.

Heffernan was last out for an 80-ball 40 and Alton were dismissed for 169, with more than three overs going to waste.

With the pitch drying fast, Alton needed to be near faultless in the field, but missed chances were to be the story of Andover’s reply.

Sean Jamison and Toby Salmon beat the bat frequently and when Jamison did find the edge, Alton failed to take advantage. Salmon, meanwhile, had former Alton colt Will Arnold dropped at midwicket.

Arnold and Josh Ballantine-Dykes had put on 39 valuable runs when Salmon made the breakthrough. Salmon then bowled the experienced Treagus first ball and Alton took heart.

Overseas player Chamika Karunaratne also fell to Salmon and Andover were 67-3.

Julian Ballinger then struck twice and when Arnold, needing one for his 50, tried to sweep the off-spinner, only to find Jamison at short third man, Andover were 107-5.

Ballinger (3-27 off 10) got Harry Blackburn first ball, Jamison also took a wicket, and Alton looked to be edging their way to victory at 113-7.

But skipper Hooper was in steely mood and he and young Dale shared a partnership of 39 to take their side to within 18 runs of victory.

Jack Myers finally broke the stand, but Adams stayed with Hooper who completed a two-wicket victory with a courageous 31 not out.

Alton continue their grim fight for survival with a home match against Hampshire Academy this Saturday. The Brewers visit Burridge in their final game on September 2.

• More frustration for Alton on Sunday when rain intervened after they had all but won their T20 Cup semi-final against Hook & Newnham Basics. With an Ageas Bowl final at stake, Alton bowled out the Division?One side for 100 and, in reply, reached 58-3 off eight overs before the umpires took the players off.

Under the rules, Alton needed to have faced 10 overs for it to constitute a game, and so the sides have to do it all again this Sunday.

• Alton 2nd XI remain in the SPL Division Three drop-zone after losing to Gosport Borough by eight wickets at Jubilee. Alton were dismissed for 140, with Ben Mortimer and Dan Trim each scoring 31. Mortimer then reduced Gosport to 19-2, but that was as far as Alton got as Lee Harrop (61 not out) and Mike Ruffell (62 not out) shared an unbroken stand of 127.