Alton manager Kevin Adair was frustrated after his side lost 2-1 at home to Redhill in the Combined Counties Premier Division South on Saturday afternoon.
Having fought their way back into the game Alton were left to regret having to play the last 20 minutes of the game with just ten men after Jack Fowler was sent off for raising his hands to an opponent.
Redhill broke the deadlock on 17 minutes when the ball was lost 30 yards from goal and Tom Harland-Goddard’s shot from range deflected into the far corner of the net.
Alton were very nearly level soon afterwards. Scott Sanderson broke clear and from 35 yards sent in a delightful chip, but Redhill keeper Luke Wynne-Roberts managed to fling himself backwards to claw the ball over the bar.
Alton keeper Lewis Mees then kept his side in the game with a superb save.
The Brewers clawed their way back into the game just before the hour when Sanderson spun neatly in the box and his shot deflected into the corner of the net.
Fowler was sent off soon afterwards, and the home side needed to dig in.
Mees made another superb save, but from the resulting corner the ball could not be cleared and after a spot of pinball in the six-yard box Harland-Goddard turned in the winner.
“It was a frustrating afternoon,” said Adair. “The sending off left us up against it for the last 20 minutes – it was difficult with ten players.
“Again there were enforced changes to the group.
“We had four young lads involved on Saturday, with two starting and two coming off the bench – which is a positive.
“Ideally the youngsters would have a few more experienced lads alongside them to help them out – but they are all good enough.
“We’ve probably chopped and changed how we’ve played too much. We need to stick to a way of playing and get the players to adapt to it.
“We’ve now lost two in a row, which isn’t great – but it’s not disastrous. Last season we were in a tough place, but that’s not the case now.”
Next up for the Brewers is a home game against Abbey Rangers in the Combined Counties Premier Division South on Saturday.
Alton lost 2-1 away at Abbey earlier this month.