Ringwood Town 0, Alton Town 3

Alton finished off a good week with a well-deserved away win on Saturday.

In truth this was a fairly straight forward win, and it’s not difficult to see why Ringwood are languishing toward the bottom of the division.

Nonetheless, it maintained Alton’s recent good form and moved them back up to fourth place in Division One of the Sydenhams Wessex League.

Brewers manager Kev Adair was forced to make just one change from the team that played so well in midweek against AFC Stoneham, bringing Stuart Green in for the unavailable Matt Graham, but this didn’t have any effect on Alton’s rhythm as they started brightly.

Liam Knight had a cross early on that was cleared before Ringwood had two chances of their own, firstly Nasim Meddah shot over, then Ryan Hamm had a free header from a corner that Jamie Phillips cleared off the line.

These moments spurred Alton into action and Scott Sanderson found Oli Graham, but he was flagged for offside.

Sanderson then had a chance of his own as he picked the ball up in midfield and drove forward, and his goal-bound shot was saved at full stretch by Sam Reilly in the Ringwood goal. The resulting corner fell to Jack Fowler whose shot was easily saved by Reilly.

Knight was giving his full back a torrid time and, after another foul on him, Sanderson headed just over.

But the goal that Alton had been threatening finally came as two Ringwood defenders went for the same ball, and it fell kindly to Fowler, who ran through on goal and gave Reilly no chance.

Fowler then forged another chance, but this time the goalkeeper saved at the expense of a corner, a set piece that Steve Black headed wide.

The goalscorer was becoming more and more influential and he combined with Sanderson, but his shot was cleared off the line.

Alton’s second goal came just before half time and again Ringwood were guilty of dithering in defence, which allowed Knight to rob Callum Williams, and as he looked to get away, Williams pulled him back, giving Alton a free kick and giving the referee no option but to dismiss the Ringwood player.

Oli Graham stepped up and his free kick found the top corner with Reilly floundering to put the Brewers in charge at 2-0.

As is often the case having gone down to ten men, Ringwood just got the remaining players behind the ball in the second half and looked to frustrate Alton and hopefully catch them on the break.

Knight then had a cross saved before Ringwood forced a rare corner and Brewers goalkeeper Justin Courtnage saved at his near post.

Substitute Luke Perkins was causing problems with his pace and he forced a corner which fell to Graham and his shot was deflected for another corner. This one fell to Sanderson whose header was saved.

Ringwood were presented with a chance as they were awarded a free kick, but Meddan put his shot high and wide.

A long Courtnage clearance then found Bowerman but his shot was easily held by the visiting goalkeeper.

Alton’s third goal came after good work from Sanderson, who found Knight wide on the left. He again got past his defender and went to the byeline and his driven ball was turned in at the far post by Perkins. From that point on it appeared that both sides were happy with their day’s work and the game petered out with further chances few and far between.

Alton can be pleased with their week’s work with three wins from three games, and two successive clean sheets, after losing four on the bounce, and they will look to continue their good form when they travel to Totton & Eling on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

Alton Town: Courtnage, Green, Phillips, Graham, Moore, Evans, Black, Benham, Sanderson, Fowler, Knight. Subs: Perkins, Bowerman, Davis.