Alton 4 Portland 2: ALTON took the points in another all-action Wessex League Premier Division game at the Enclosure last Saturday afternoon (February 12).

The visitors were quickest out of the blocks and scored after just nine minutes, when the ball was poked home from close range after the scrambling home defenders managed to block an initial shot at goal.

The home side gradually clawed their way into the game and although Jack Fowler shot wide of the far post when well placed, momentum was building.

The equaliser arrived after 39 minutes when Scott Sanderson was pulled down by the full back when he might have been in on goal.

There was no more than a booking for the left back – which appeared the right call at the time – and Matt Benham made them pay, as his superb delivery invited Ollie Page to leap highest and thump home a super header.

Minutes later the visitors’ left back was again caught out as the ball struck his outstretched arm which stopped Fowler being clean in on goal.

After much debate the referee deemed it unintentional, and the score remained level at half-time.

The home side were well on top at the start of the second half and on 50 minutes they went ahead, Benham tucking home from ten yards after a swift break.

Five minutes later and they appeared to stretch their lead as Ollie Graham got the luck of the bounce in the box and neatly tucked the ball home – but to the amazement of everyone, the linesman flagged him offside.

Now sensing an opportunity, the home side poured forward and were eventually rewarded with the goal of the game.

Jamie Phillips raided down the right and was found by Fowler. He cut inside and delivered a super pass across the six-yard box where George Bowerman arrived to drive the ball home.

With the game getting away from them, the visitors chose to break up Alton’s rhythm with niggly fouls – and Benham was often the victim.

After 69 minutes Portland got a goal back with a free header from a corner.

The visitors then threw everything they had into attack, at times playing with four up front, although a disallowed goal from an obvious offside and two really good saves by Kieran Greene in the home goal kept them at bay.

As they continued to commit players forward, gaps appeared and chances came for the home side, and Junior Kamara drove into the box and with just the keeper to beat shot wide.

With the 90 minutes played, Sanderson robbed a hesitant defender and drove forward. shooting across the keeper and scoring off the far post – to the relief of the home supporters.