AFC FAWLEY 0, ALTON 2

ALTON returned from Fawley on Saturday with another victory and, for the first time this season in the Sydenhams League Division One, back-to-back clean sheets.

Due to floodlight and landlord issues, this was only Fawley’s second home game of the season and both sides took a while to get to grips with the bobbly surface.

In the absence of Taylor Watts (broken nose), Callum Burch was moved out wide and he got Alton’s first shot away, bringing a good save from Jon Page. Then Scott Sanderson, released by George Callard’s fine ball, shot into the sidenetting.

The Brewers were beginning to create chances. Burch had a shot blocked after good work by Sanderson and player-manager Mark Corbett, while Danny Knee went close with a free-kick.

This was a sighter for Knee who gave Alton the lead after 25 minutes. Sanderson played him through and Knee curled his shot past keeper Page into the far corner.

It wasn’t all one-way traffic, though, and Lewis Boughton made a decent save to deny Kieran Roche for a second time.

However, Alton doubled their lead in the 31st minute. Sanderson’s initial shot from a cross was blocked and Corbett’s follow-up was also charged down, but the alert Knee was there to fire home the rebound.

It was Sanderson’s last bit of action because he was injured in the build-up and was replaced by Adam Allaway.

Fawley should have pulled one back close to half-time, an unmarked Ben Bolton heading over the crossbar.

The home side sensed they could get back in the game on the restart and Boughton had to be alert to deny Bolton, while substitute Steve Green and then Roche shot wide when well placed.

Alton were defending manfully and Fawley probably knew they were never going to score when Roche got free and chipped the advancing Boughton, only to see the ball drift wide.

Alton are home to US Portsmouth at The Enclosure this Saturday.

Alton: Boughton, Callard, Graham, Copplestone, Williams, Colbourne, Knee, Sanderson (Allaway), Corbett, Hayes, Burch.