ROMSEY TN 2, ALTON TN 1

ROMSEY moved above Alton in the Wessex League Division One table with this hard-earned win.

Both sides made decent chances in a lively first half that somehow ended goalless.

Romsey had the edge, though, and took the lead moments after the interval. A mix-up in the Alton defence gave Mark Irvine the chance to steal the ball and advance towards goal.

Although forced wide, Irvine kept his cool and passed into the path of Callum Holloway who finished calmly past Mo Nyamunga.

With Romsey looking to kill the game off, Irvine was sent through on goal again, but this time Nyamunga parried the shot into the path of Matt Hawkes, who hit the post from a tight angle.

On 75 minutes, the game was wide open again as Kurt Greenaway equalised for the Brewers. A long clearance from Nyamunga evaded the home defenders and fell to Greenaway whose shot wrong-footed keeper Amadeusz Skrzyniarz and found the net.

A draw looked increasingly on the cards, but Alton’s hopes were dashed with five minutes to go. Hawkes’ whipped free-kick was nodded on by Zak Pickett and Josh Graham touched home his first goal for the club.

Romsey had some late scares as Alton pushed for a point that, on balance, they probably deserved.

An eighth away defeat for Alton who, in marked contrast, have won ten times back home.