Totton & Eling 0, Alton Town 3

Alton made it three games without conceding a goal on Saturday as they made light work of seeing off a spirited Totton & Eling side.

And it could have been worse for the hosts, who had goalkeeper Nathan Taylor to thank for keeping the score respectable. If it wasn’t for the goalkeeper, Alton could well have reached double figures.

The game was played on quite a boggy pitch with rain for much of the game, but with confidence high Alton started brightly.

Luke Perkins put in a dangerous early cross before an Alton free kick was cleared, which allowed Totton a breakaway, but Brewers keeper Justin Courtnage made a routine save.

Alton were pressing in numbers and Scott Sanderson crossed, but George Bowerman was adjudged to have fouled the Totton goalkeeper. Sanderson shot wide and then Liam Knight robbed his defender of the ball but was fouled. Oli Graham’s free kick was blocked by the wall and Taylor collected the corner.

Still Alton came forward as Graham broke up play in midfield and found Perkins who forced Taylor into a smart save. Sanderson then wriggled his way through but Taylor was again equal to the challenge and saved the one on one.

But midway through the half Alton took the lead they deserved as Knight got to the byline and crossed for Bowerman to head home.

Totton hit back and forced Courtnage into a save before Alton got back on top again and Benham shot wide when the ball was half cleared from a corner.

A fine move involving Bowerman and Sanderson then saw the latter burst into the area where he was unceremoniously dumped to the ground, giving the referee an easy decision as he pointed to the spot. Phil Moore made no mistake to double Alton’s lead.

Knight then robbed his defender again but his cross was behind the roving Alton forwards.

At the other end, captain Jamie Phillips had to be alert to thwart a Totton attack, but the half ended with Taylor making a fine double save to keep out first Luke Perkins and then Bowerman, when it looked easier for both to score.

The second half was more of the same as Alton threatened to score at will, only to see Taylor make save after save.

And Alton threatened to make it difficult for themselves as they were guilty of taking their foot of the gas, but Courtnage stood firm and made two full-length saves in quick succession.

The Brewers thought they had scored a third when a speculative shot from distance by Graham slipped through the goalkeeper’s arms and legs before he turned to claw the ball back from what appeared to be at least a foot over the line, but the linesman and referee were unsighted and no goal was given.

Undeterred, Perkins then had a shot that Taylor saved at full stretch and the rebound fell to Knight who unselfishly returned the ball to Perkins, who appeared to be fouled but the referee waved away the penalty appeals.

The third goal finally came when a corner was only half cleared and Benham’s shot was parried by the goalkeeper. Sanderson reacted quickest to tap home the rebound.

Taylor then saved from Knight after being set up by Perkins as the Brewers hunted more goals, while Courtnage had to go full stretch again to keep his goal in tact before the referee blew the final whistle.

Alton thoroughly deserved their victory and will need to be on top of their game on Saturday as they entertain Laverstock & Ford at The Enclosure.

Alton Town: Courtnage, Green, Phillips, O Graham, Moore, Evans, Knight, Benham, Sanderson, Bowerman, Perkins. Subs: M Graham, Bicknell, Day.