ALTON FC 8, RINGWOOD TN 4 (Sydenhams League Div I)

THIS 12-goal battle thrilled the spectators at The Enclosure, but some kamikaze defending by both teams had the managers tearing their hair out.

With a sending-off for both sides and goals aplenty, there was never a dull moment. Alton, forced to make four changes from the team that had lost the first game of the season, took the lead after just two minutes. Danny Knee got away down the right and his cross was turned in at the far post by Scott Sanderson.

Matt Steer forced a decent save from Matt Petts in the home goal, but Sanderson’s off-the-ball-running was causing the Ringwood defence all sorts of problems.

It was no surprise when a move involving Regan Hitch and Taylor Watts ended with Sanderson lobbing the keeper to double the lead.

Almost straight from the restart, Watts broke down the left and his cross was converted by Knee at the back post; 3-0 to the Brewers.

This seemed to wake up the New Forest side and Ben Williams cleared off his line from Ben Harris, with keeper Petts beaten.

Hitch’s afternoon came to an early end when, after a conference between referee and linesman, he was sent off for denying a scoring opportunity. But soon Ringwood’s Lee Clark followed him off the field after kicking out at Knee.

And from Joe Clarke’s resulting free-kick, Sanderson headed back across goal and Taylor Watts added the finishing touch to seemingly put the game to bed at 4-0.

As half-time approached, and with the home defence looking as though they thought the job was done, Michael Cowland pulled one back for Ringwood.

Alton started the second half like a train, with Sanderson, Knee and Williams all going close, so it was against the run of play that Matt Steer shot home for Ringwood’s second.

Two minutes later, Sanderson’s shot hit the crossbar and Knee was on hand to put away the rebound.

With ample space in the 10-a-side contest, Cowland got his second for Ringwood before Mark Corbett made a double substitution and it was replacement Dan Goodall who scored his first senior goal after a fine move involving Watts.

Fellow sub Max Paddon rounded the keeper to get the home team’s seventh and Goodall’s cross-field pass set up Watts to score his second and complete Alton’s tally.

Lee Vint had the final word for Ringwood and so ended one of the more remarkable games seen on the new 3G pitch at Anstey Park.

Joe Clarke filled in at centre-half after Hitch was sent off and gave a solid performance, but Alton will be looking to tighten up their defence after conceding six goals in their first two games.

Alton: Petts, Cass, Graham, Thorpe, Williams, Hitch, Knee, Clarke, Sanderson, Callard, Watts. Subs: Flanighan, Goodall, Paddon (all used), Brown.

• Alton travel to East Cowes Victoria this Saturday. On Tuesday, Alton are at Brockenhurst in the first round of the Hampshire Senior Cup.