ALTON 7,

NEW MILTON TOWN 0

ONLY two places separated these sides in the Sydenhams League Division?One table, but a rampant Alton scored seven times, Scott Sanderson leading the way with four goals.

Alton were completely dominant on the 3G pitch and it wasn’t until the 89th minute that Kallum Lunn’s goal came under threat when a rare New Milton attack ended with Adam Louka hitting the outside of the post.

The Brewers should probably should have scored even more, but Sanderson’s nine-minute hat-trick in the first half put the game well and truly out of the visitors’ reach.

The alarm bells should have rung for New Milton when Adam Aimable headed narrowly wide from Sean Hayes’ free-kick.

Four minutes later, Sanderson reacted quickest after James Isaac could only palm away a shot from Taylor Watts and Alton had the lead.

Sanderson made it two shortly after when he chased for a risky back-pass and Isaac’s clearance hit him on the knee and looped over the hapless keeper and into the net.

It was not to be Isaac’s day. Five minutes later, his headed clearance from outside his box fell to Sanderson who volleyed back into the unguarded goal from some 30 yards to complete his lightning treble.

Alton continued to run the show and when Sanderson was crudely brought down on the edge of the box, Hayes blasted the free-kick against the crossbar.

The home midfield were enjoying themselves and Regan Hitch, Ryan Bunney, Mitchell Parker and winger Watts all had a pot at goal.

The fourth arrived on the stroke of half-time, a fluid move down the right allowing Bunney to head home Hitch’s cross.

Alton added two more in the first 10 minutes of the second half. Watts raced onto a delightful through-ball to score number five and then, following a half-cleared corner, Hayes struck a 25-yard shot into the top corner.

Despite ringing the changes, Alton remained on top and Watts, Sanderson and Parker all had chances to increase the lead.

It was that man Sanderson who rounded off the scoring when he headed home Alton’s seventh and his fourth in the 90th minute to complete a fine all-round performance and make it three wins on the bounce for the Brewers.

The centre-back pairing of Mark Taylor and Aimable, apart from that one late chance, completely shut out the New Milton attackers.

This Saturday, Alton host fifth-placed Shaftesbury (ko 3pm at The Enclosure).

* Alresford Town are up to 12th in the Premier Division after winning 2-1 at Bemerton Heath on Tuesday. This followed the Magpies’ 5-3 victory in an eventful home match against Bashley on Saturday. Steve Hall scored twice for Alresford and there were goals for Tom Sands, Sam Burt and John Cole. Kabba Jack (2, 1 pen) and Matt Vining replied for Bashley.

Newport (IoW) 0, Alton Reserves 4 (Wyvern Combination East Div). It’s always satisfying to come away from the Island with a result and Alton Reserves certainly enjoyed their day trip.

For 10 minutes, Robbie Clayton’s side looked like they’d forgotten how to play on grass with misplaced and under-hit passes.

But things changed when Kieran Lenaghan went on one of his driving runs and fired home from an acute angle.

Making his first Alton appearance in four years, Sam Knight showed that he hasn’t lost any of his ability and his sweet left-foot volley gave the Brewers a two-goal cushion at the interval.

Alton had several more opportunities in the second half and Olli Meaker finally settled the issue with two goals in five minutes. First, he rounded the keeper to slot home and then finished off a nice passing move to make it 4-0.