TADLEY CALLEVA 3, ALTON 6

FOOTBALL is all about scoring and there were goals aplenty at Tadley Calleva on Saturday as Alton ran out winners in a nine-goal thriller.

Tadley took the lead in the second minute while Alton were trying to come to terms with a bumpy surface and, following a misplaced pass, Brett Denham was able to take the ball round Kallum Lunn to score.

The lead proved short-lived and, within minutes, a through-ball found Scott Sanderson who gave Tadley keeper Tom Hindmarsh no chance.

This spurred Alton on and they almost took the lead when Taylor Watts crossed for Sanderson to bring a good save from Hindmarsh.

The game then ebbed and flowed until a fine Alton move down the left involving Watts, Declan Shuttleworth and Joe Green gave Sanderson a tap-in for his second goal.

Tadley fought back and after Shuttleworth had shot wide, some hesitant Alton defending presented Scott Kinge with the equaliser.

Sanderson raced clear again, only to have his shot parried, but from the resultant play Joe Green crossed for Callum Burch to volley home at the far post to send Alton into half-time with a 3-2 advantage.

The second half got underway with chances at both ends. Shuttleworth had a shot saved after breaking clear, with Watts just failing to get to the rebound.?Shuttleworth was not to be denied, though, and latched onto Sanderson’s through-ball to beat Hindmarsh at his near post.

At the other end, Ali Gill cleared a header off the line. However, a long clearance by Hindmarsh caught out the Alton defence and Denham reduced the arrears.

Trailing 4-3, Tadley were right back in it, but a defensive lapse from Andrew Charlsey allowed Sanderson to again turn provider and he squared the ball for Shuttleworth to score Alton’s fifth.

To the watching fans, it seemed as though either side could score at will. Watts had a shot deflected for a corner, Burch hit the post and then Shuttleworth set up Ryan Bunney who was denied by a bobble as he went to shoot, lifting the ball over the bar.

With the clock ticking down, Alton had to defend in numbers as Tadley forced three successive corners before the ball was claimed by Lunn. His quick throw released Watts who then found Shuttleworth ready to finish in style and complete his hat-trick with the final goal of an eventful encounter.

Alton go into the Christmas break in fine fettle, having won seven of their last eight league games and advanced to tenth in Division?One of the Sydenhams League (Wessex).

Alton: Lunn, Gill, Green, Hayes, Aimable, Taylor, Burch, Parker, Shuttleworth, Sanderson, Watts. Subs: (used) Bunney, Way, Beaumout, (unused) Salmon, Ventham.

* Alton are next in league action on Tuesday, December 27 when they entertain Fleet Spurs at The Enclosure (ko 3pm). For this match, admission has been reduced to £3 for adults and free for U18s.