AFC Stoneham 1

ALTON entertained AFC Stoneham on Non-League Day and were rewarded with three points in front of a crowd of 132.

And The Brewers had to come from behind after Stoneham took the lead after just three minutes. Matt Petts, in the Alton goal, was forced to tip over from Scott Hills, but from the resultant corner Caballero headed back across goal and Jack Nicholls gave Petts no chance.

At the other end Taylor Watts, with one of his trademark runs down the wing, found Callum Burch but his shot was cleared.

Stoneham then produced two corners in quick succession that came to nothing before Alton equalised.

Good work from Joe Clarke in midfield released Danny Knee and he beat his defender before curling his left-footed shot past Scott Williams in the Stoneham goal and into the far corner of the net.

Alton upped their game and Burch got clear but Williams was equal to it and saved with his feet. It wasn’t all Alton, though, and Tom Hogan shot over Petts’ goal from distance. But on the stroke of half time Stoneham were reduced to 10 men when Matt Palmer was dismissed for kicking out at Ben Williams following an Alton corner.

The home side came out for the second half knowing that they had to work hard to win the game as Stoneham dug in to try to preserve the 1-1 scoreline, but it wasn’t to be as Knee ran them ragged and it was from his cross that Alton took the lead when Nicholls’ clearance hit his own defender, Scott Hills, and ballooned past Williams.

Alton were now making the extra man count and Knee twisted his man this way and that before thumping his shot against the bar, when he deserved better.

At the other end, Petts had to be alert to save from Manning before Burch shot over when he perhaps had more time than he thought. Knee then got through again and forced Williams down to his left to save.

The Alton defence was holding firm and Sean Hayes shot over, before Taylor Watts got through on goal and again forced Williams to save.

But Alton made the game safe when, following a crude foul on Matt Graham, his free kick found Ollie Copplestone at the far post who poked home his first goal of the season to make it 3-1.

Williams again saved from Knee before Alton’s Ben Williams crossed the ball into the box and with the Stoneham defender waiting for the ball to arrive at his feet, Sean Hayes nipped in to control the ball and shoot home Alton’s fourth, giving Williams no chance.

Alton Town: Petts, Callard, Graham, Copplestone, Williams, Adkins, Knee, Clarke, Burch, Hayes, Watts. Subs: Colbourne, Thorpe (both used).