ALTON 6, PORTSMOUTH & SOUTHSEA 0

ALTON put six goals past bottom side Portsmouth & Southsea to end the first half of the Hampshire 2 season on a high note.

But Portsmouth didn’t go down without a fight and were the better side early on as they stretched Alton and cut out their passes.

Alton steadied themselves, however, and gradually the momentum swung their way, with a shot from Stuart Gagen hitting the crossbar.

Dave Compton put Alton in front with a rocket of a shot from the far side of the circle that was too hot for the keeper to handle.

Alton picked up the pace and it was not long before Tom Singleton squeezed the ball under the advancing keeper for the second goal.

Five minutes before the break, Scott Reading finished off a smooth short-corner routine and Alton, leading 3-0, were in the driving seat.

Alton sensed an opportunity for a big score and forced a string of short corners at the start of the second half, only to be denied by fine goalkeeping and last-ditch defending.

Portsmouth continued to defend valiantly and although Alton created several chances, they were denied by brave tackles.

However, as the game entered the final ten minutes, Alton really raised the ante and scored three goals in rapid succession.

Gagen broke away from his marker and calmly looped the ball over the advancing keeper. The home side poured forward and young Harry Till was well placed to convert at the back post. Finally, Pete Howland drilled the ball into the bottom left corner to make it six of the best.

Alton sit seventh in the league at the halfway stage, a strong position for the newly promoted side. They will look to build on some fine performances when the league resumes in the new year.