Alton Town 1, Hythe & Dibden 1

ALTON Town picked up four points in as many days to keep pace with the leaders.

Kev Adair’s battlers won by the odd goal in five at Verwood Town on Saturday – courtesy of goals from Oli Graham, Liam Knight and Luke Perkins – before earning a point at home to Hythe and Dibden on Tuesday night.

A game under the lights of The Enclosure between two teams in the top echelons of the top of the Wessex League Division One was always was going to be a tight encounter.

And so it proved as the Brewers and Hythe and Dibden couldn’t be separated, with a penalty to each side ensured both teams cemented their respective positions in the top four.

Scott Sanderson had a shot saved in the first minute before Hythe took control and peppered the Alton goal.

But Alton weathered the storm on a wet night in East Hampshire and managed first to get a foothold in the game, with Bowerman forcing Grant in the Hythe goal to go full stretch to keep to out his effort, before Alton took the lead.

It was that man Bowerman who chased a through ball and Grant was adjudged to have fouled him inside the penalty area.

Phil Moore stepped up to give the keeper no chance and Alton the lead.

Having gone in front, the Brewers had the wind in their sails but were unable to capitalise on their lead.

And with both sides going for the win the second half was very open, with neither side in the ascendancy, but Hythe were awarded a penalty when Grindel was penalised for a foul and Dark stepped up to gave Courtnage no chance for the equaliser.

The rest of the game ebbed and flowed without any clearcut chances for either side and the game ended with Alton on the front foot without really testing Grant in the Hythe goal.

But on this evidence it is easy to see why these two sides are near the top of Division One, and it’s not a stretch to think that both of these teams will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season.

Tomorrow, the Brewers are at home to lowly New Milton Town (kick-off 3pm) before travelling to face Whitchurch United next Wednesday (kick-off 7.45pm).

Alton Town: Courtnage, Knight, Moore, Grindel, Phillips, Green, Black, Bicknell, Sanderson, Bowerman, Channon.