ALRESFORD TN 2, VERWOOD 3 (Sydenhams Wessex Premier League)

THE relegation trapdoor opened a little wider as Alresford let slip a two-goal lead and lost at home to ten-man Verwood.

An open first half brought plenty of entertainment, but no goals. As early as the fourth minute, Jordan Fisk cleared Mike Weatherall in the home goal with a chip, but the ball rebounded off the post into the keeper’s arms.

At the other end, the Magpies did everything but score. Oli Yates fired narrowly over from distance, Simon Everett volleyed just wide, and John Howard blasted just past the post when a defensive blunder sent him racing clear.

However, it took Alresford only three minutes to end the stalemate after half-time. A weak defensive header fell to Yates who crashed the ball past Ray Stroud.

Eight minutes later, the Magpies were flying after doubling their lead. John Mulhern latched onto Ben Thomson’s well-directed pass and lobbed the advancing Stroud, Liam Donachy failing in his valiant attempt to clear off the line.

The crucial turning-point came on 58 minutes. Yates appeared to be brought down from behind as he advanced on goal, but there was no whistle. Verwood promptly broke away and Ben Stanbrook’s tussle with Charlie Gajic was adjudged to be a foul. To make matters worse for the hosts, the incident was inside the box and Tyler Rutten made no mistake with the penalty.

On 72 minutes, Verwood’s Dean Evans was shown a straight red card after kicking out at Thomson who was trying to retrieve the ball to take a free-kick.

That should have been the signal for the Magpies to take control and use their numerical advantage to play out time. But the islanders, with the speedy Aaron Atkinson an increasing influence, were having none of it.

Alresford were tiring and Verwood were now winning most of the midfield battles. On 82 minutes, two of their substitutes conjured up an equaliser, Joe Wood peeling away from his marker to nod in at the far post from Andy Masson’s cross.

Both sides went for the winner, but Verwood had their tails up and looked more likely to break through again. They managed that on 87 minutes when Gajic finished from close range after a free-kick.

The Magpies had nothing left in the tank.