ALTON TN 4,

AFC STONEHAM 0

ALTON Town started off at The Enclosure how they finished off at The Bass – with a rousing 4-0 victory in the Sydenhams League Division One.

The Brewers excelled on the pristine G3 artificial surface, scoring twice in each half against AFC Stoneham as they reaped the rewards of bold, attacking football.

Michael Charles said that selection had been difficult as Alton switched from a heavy, boggy field to a true, dead-flat surface. “In the end I picked a footballing side and went for young players able to get the ball down and play,” said the manager. “Often, at the other ground, we had to scrap for points and picked sides accordingly. This is a bit different.”

Of the new pitch, he said the ball tended to stop in the dry and run further than ever in the wet. “But it’s the same sort of bounce and there’s no difficulty with sliding tackles, although it may have to be watered in warm weather.

“Diehard fans will say that football should be played on grass, but the weather makes it difficult to keep going at this time of the year. I’m sure every club would go for it if they had the money.”

Alton’s pacey attack always caused problems for Stoneham, but in fact the visitors had the first chance and were only denied the lead by Mo Nyamunga who made a vital save in a one-on-one.

Then, after 20 minutes, front-runner Jonny Gray was fouled and Luke Perkins sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot.

Ten minutes later, Perkins was through with just the keeper to beat and drilled the ball home from an acute angle; 2-0.

After a scrappy start to the second half, Perkins went clear in another one-on-one and this time blazed his shot over the top. And he couldn’t complain about the ball ‘bobbling.’

Midway through the half, Alton put together a good move on the right and a cross from substitute Henry Fox was finished off at the near post by Gray.

The fourth goal was a cracker. Sean Hayes supplied the through-ball and Gray took one touch before shooting clean and true into the bottom corner.

Stoneham lost a player to a professional foul, but this was not a reflection of a well-fought game that was a good advertisement for the Wessex League on a brand-new pitch.

Alton Tn: Nyamunga, Allaway, Taylor, Shuttleworth (Millington), Atkins; Clarke, Hayes; Peck (Fox), Perkins, Hunter (Greeves); Gray. Subs (not used): Graham, Sanderson.

Alton scored four goals for the third match running as they beat Premier Division side Fareham 4-2 in the Wessex League Cup in midweek.

With the wet weather continuing, Fareham requested that the tie be switched to the new G3 pitch – perhaps a sign of things to come. Alton agreed and then put four goals past the visitors to reach the third round, where they are drawn away to Team Solent, another Premier Division side.

Alton powered into a 2-0 lead with well-placed shots from Henry Fox and Jonny Gray and Fareham were only let into the game when Mo Nyamunga, uncharacteristically, dropped the ball, gifting them a goal.

Luke Perkins was giving Fareham’s defenders a nightmare evening, but had left his shooting boots behind, and it was the substitutes who put the game to bed.

Sean Latimer set up the third goal for Ash Peck. Then Peck returned the favour as Latimer made it 4-1.

Fareham pulled one back and then won a penalty, giving them the chance to get back within a goal, only for Nyamunga to make amends with a brilliant double save.

Success comes at a price and Michael Charles has a massive selection headache, with 18 players in contention for the trip to Hythe & Dibden in the league.