RINGWOOD TN 2, ALTON FC 1

With players unavailable for all sorts of reasons, Alton travelled to Ringwood on Saturday with the bare 11 players, but put up a gutsy performance and only succumbed to defeat because they had to play the whole of the second half with ten men after Rob Haig was forced off with a broken foot.

The mid-table Sydenhams League Division One encounter started brightly for both sides. Matt Jackson ballooned his shot when Alton forced an early corner and, at the other end, Callum Wells missed a decent chance for the New Forest side.

The game settled down, but openings continued to come at both ends. Ringwood’s Ben Harris was unable to convert a cross at the far post and then Ben Williams nade a timely interception when Alton’s back line looked to have been broken.

Jackson was marshalled wide as he homed in on goal and his pace continued to cause Ringwood problems, but no-one able to keep up with him when he broke down the right and his cross sailed harmlessly away.

The Brewers looked a real threat. Rob Haig went close and then crossed to Callum Burch whose shot was blocked on the edge of the box.

But Alton would not be denied and finally took the lead. Jackson again sprinted down the right and this time Jack Chandler got inside the box to score at the far post. It was his first goal for the club.

This spurred Ringwood forward and the alert Chandler made an important block before Lee Vint and Josh Smith both shot wide.

Then came the innocuous tackle that was to force Haig off and Ringwood were soon making their numerical advantage count.

Alton changed formation for the second half, with Danny Knee now playing at right-back. They came close to doubling their lead from a free-kick after a foul on Knee, but Ringwood were beginning to find space and it was no surprise when they equalised.

The Brewers this time conceded a free-kick, the ball was played into the box and Pepe-chino Smith’s slight touch gave keeper Joe Brock no chance.

Ringwood sensed a chance of victory and Vint and Smith both missed with headers.

Then Alton mounted a rare attack and Jackson missed a glorious chance to restore the lead as his mis-hit shot was parried by keeper Trevor Ford and no-one was alert to place the loose ball in the empty net.

Alton were to rue the miss as Ringwood hit back to snatch the winner, Vint getting in between defenders to fire past Brock into the far corner.

A frustrating afternoon for Alton, but their skeleton squad deserve credit for a fighting display in trying circumstances. Had they had a full complement for the 90 minutes, the result could well have been different.

Alton now prepare for two successive home games: New Milton on Saturday and Fawley on Tuesday (April 3).

• In the Premier Division, Horndean’s home game with Bashley and Alresford’s trip to Team Solent was both postponed on Saturday due to the condition of the pitches.

• Petersfield Town, without a fixture last weekend, are away to Baffins Milton this Saturday. On Easter Monday, Petersfield – rock-bottom of the Premier Division, are home to Bashley at Love Lane (ko 3pm).