Alton 0, Southampton University II 0

Alton put in a massive effort on Saturday but couldn’t find a way through a resilient Southampton University side and had to settle for a goalless draw at Eggar’s School.

Having lost their opening fixture of 2019 on the road last week to Bournemouth, Alton were keen to pick up their first victory of the year on home ground in Hampshire 2, and from the off they seemed the stronger side.

Early pressure saw the home side have several attacks into the university circle but the final touch seemed to be missing.

Alton’s Sam Steel and Tom Singleton were still a live threat up front and came close on several occasions, the best chance falling to Singleton who made a strong run to the far side of the circle and fired a shot that rattled the top corner of the goal but just the wrong side of the crossbar.

The students were still in the game, however, and Alton’s defence had to be on their toes with the visitors having several counter attacks, but it was nothing that Alton couldn’t deal with as the first half drew to a close with the teams level.

Again it seemed that the momentum was with Alton at the start of the second half as the home side moved the ball around well, making it hard for Southampton to have a good spell of possession.

Alton’s midfield continued to win the ball and send it forward, with Luke Bottomley and man-of-the-match Liam Cave working well together to try to supply Alton’s forwards with through balls.

But the university defended well as a unit and put everything they had behind the ball. Even when Alton did manage to break through, the visiting goalkeeper made several key saves, including a superb stop from a strike by Alton skipper Nigel Downing.

With time winding down both sides gave it their all in a bid to break the deadlock, with some more great chances falling to Alton’s Singleton and Steel, only to be denied again by the visitors’ stubborn defence and goalkeeper who would not be broken and saw the game end with both sides sharing the points.

Alton will reflect on a game they know they could have won but will still have been happy to take a point as they prepare for a tough fixture on Saturday when they make the long trip to Dorset to take on third-placed Poole in men’s Hampshire 2.