Alton Town 1, Andover Town 4

Beleagured Alton Town slipped to a sixth successive defeat in Division One of the Sydenhams Wessex League on Tuesday night.

And having been thumped 4-1 at home by rock-bottom Andover Town at The Enclosure, it’s fair to say the current drop in form is more than just a blip.

The quartet of goals scored by Andover takes the total the Brewers have conceded in this horrible six-game spell to an alarming 26 since beating East Hampshire rivals Petersfield Town 5-1 just before Christmas.

And the Brewers have also been dumped out of two cup competitions during that time, including one at the semi-final stage.

Yet Alton, who have slipped down to 11th place in the league having comfortably occupied a place in the top five for so long, could have had more to show for their efforts but for profligacy in front of goal during their barren run.

That fact was highlighted after just 37 seconds on Tuesday night when Callum Burch, Steve Black and Matt Bunyan combined well, only to see the goalkeeper somehow thwart Mark Corbett inside the six-yard box when it looked easier to score, and 60 seconds later Bunyan latched onto a ball over the top but fired wide.

And as has been happening so often in recent games, the Brewers paid the penalty as the defence allowed George Higgins to run through and give Andover the lead.

And it could have been two when poor defending forced Brewers goalkeeper Matt Petts into a fine save with the rebound being blasted over the bar before the busy Alton shot stopper was called into action again to parry an effort from Emans.

At the other end, the Brewers missed a gilt-edged chance to equalise when Corbett raced down the left wing and pulled the ball back for Burch unmarked at the back post, but the forward could only screw his shot wide.

After chances at both ends, Alton did finally get back on level terms from a corner just before the break. The inswinging kick was punched clear by the Andover goalkeeper but the ball was hoisted back into the visitors’ box where Corbett was on hand to nod the ball home at the far post.

But the Brewers’ relief at going in level at half-time was short-lived as they conceded a goal at the start of the second half, and a third soon followed as Josh Bertie got down the wing and pulled the ball back to the far post for Higgins to convert. Petts then gave Alton a lifeline with a fine penalty save but Andover extinguished any hopes of a comeback by grabbing a fourth goal.

* On Saturday, Alton Town travel to face league rivals Ringwood Town in Division One of the Wessex League as they look to end their losing run.