DOWNTON 0, ALTON FC 3

ALTON bounced back with a vengeance from a heavy defeat to Tadley as Downton were put to the sword in Saturday’s Sydenhams League Division One fixture.

Alton welcomed back Mark Taylor after a long absence through injury. Matt Petts returned in goal and there was also a long-awaited league debut for Ryan Thomas.

Petts played a crucial role for the Brewers. With the score 2-0, he saved a penalty and this seemed to deflate Downton, ensuring that Alton returned with the three points.

Downton employed a long-ball game on the uneven surface, while Alton tried to get the ball down and play. But all too often, the pitch played a part and the ball bobbled at an inopportune moment.

Both teams had early chances and Downton came closest to scoring. Petts had to be alert to save a header from a long throw-in and Charlie Cooper hit the post before Alton made the breakthrough.

Max Paddon blocked a clearance and played the ball to Mark Corbett. The player-manager in turn found Taylor Watts who gave the keeper no chance with a left-foot shot.

Watts, Thomas and Paddon could all have doubled the lead, but then Alton lost the ball in midfield and Petts got down well to turn Cooper’s shot away for a corner.

Danny Knee forced Jakub Lewiarz into a fine save before slack defending by Alton allowed Zac Ford a free header which he failed to get on target.

Skipper Matt Graham’s fine free-kick just eluded Taylor at the far post. Then Alton had a lucky escape when more sloppy defending resuled in a cross reaching Tommy Aldridge who, with the freedom of the penalty area, mis-controlled and allowed Ben Williams to clear the danger.

Alton looked determined to put the game to bed from the start of the second half and got their reward when Graham’s corner was headed goalwards by Corbett and, in the ensuing melee, defender Williams forced the ball home.

It was the returning Taylor who gave Downton a lifeline by conceding a penalty, but Petts stood tall, guessed right, and dived to his left to save Cooper’s spot kick and then recovered to clear the loose ball.

As Downton pressed forward, gaps appeared at the back and Alton duly killed the game off with their third goal. With the referee playing an advantage, Knee got down the right and his pull-back was slammed home by Corbett.

Downton hit the woodwork again in the final moments, but the Brewers were good value for this win. Centre-backs Taylor and Williams deserve special credit after being subjected to 90 minutes of long balls being humped up the middle and, with the odd exception, won all their battles.

Alton will look to take this form forward to this Saturday when they visit lowly Verwood Town.