FAREHAM IV 1, ALTON 4

ALTON arrived at Fareham determined to show that they were top of Hampshire 3 for a good reason.

And the result was never really in doubt as Alton made it six wins out of six to maintain their five-point lead.

After a nervy opening as the two sides sized each other up, Alton started to gain momentum and forced the home side into several errors at the back.

The chances began to come and Tom Singleton was unlucky with a reverse-stick shot that thudded against the post.

Soon after, some good movement up front gave Pete Howland enough space to fire home the opening goal for Alton.

Fareham had good spells of their own, but struggled to break through the tough defence of skipper Nigel Downing, James Wilson, Dan Trim and Richard Spicer.

Midway through the half, Alton doubled their lead when Jason Smith’s cracking shot was tapped in at the far post by Harry Curtis.

The loss of key player Wilson with a head injury unsettled the visitors and Fareham pulled one back just before the break.

But if Fareham felt they were right back in the game, Alton had other ideas and it took them barely a minute of the second half to restore their two-goal cushion, Singleton storming into the circle and crashing home an unstoppable shot.

Alton continued their high press and in-form striker James Goulding-Stewart calmly slid the ball under the advancing keeper to make it 4-1.

The visitors then camped in the Fareham half and saw out the game comfortably.