Alresford hit the victory trail - at last!

ALRESFORD finally secured their first win in the League since September when a fine performance saw them defeat Vics - who were some 16 places above them in the table!

Manager Keith Curtis rang the changes with Gavin Flye, Andy Pearson and Russell Vowles replacing Matt Bolland, Glenn Pritchard and Brett Young from the team that had lost to Blackfield.

Although the first ten minutes were fairly even, it was the home side that came closest to opening the scoring when Gary Bennett shot just wide from 12 yards.

A minute later Flye had a shot after being put through by Joel Matthews, but Payne in the visitors' goal was able to push the ball against the post. Flye managed to connect with the rebound, but could only find the side netting from an acute angle.

Gradually Alresford began to believe in their own ability and applied pressure on the visitors' defence and midfield - both of which looked suspect.

However, on one of the visitors' rare excursions into the home penalty area Chris Martin in the home goal had to tip a shot from Keiran Ford over the bar for a corner.

The opening goal came in the 26th minute when after a good move down the right Flye, poised to shoot, was fouled in the box. Gary Bennett tucked the resultant penalty low into the corner of the goal.

Alresford continued to press in search of further rewards, and Bennett was just wide with a shot after being set up by Andy Pearson.

In the 43rd minute Flye did increase the lead. A through ball by Bennett enabled him to beat the offside trap, and an early shot from 18 yards flew past Payne.

A minute later a shot on the turn by Bennett whistled past the post after good work by brothers Jonathon and Russell Vowles.

The visitors began the second half the stronger, and the Alresford followers feared that their lead was going to disappear; but when Vics did get shots on goal Martin was equal to them.

Alresford weathered the storm, and increased their lead on 60 minutes when a free kick from Russell Vowles was flicked on by Flye to Matthews, and he finished with a dipping right foot shot from 18 yards.

Six minutes later Martin brought off a fine save from a header by Andy Ebbs, and then saved a shot from Shane Armidger from 12 yards to deny the visitors.

Play was fairly even from then on, and Alresford ran out comfortable winners.

Although the three teams above them all lost, the result does not move them off the bottom of the table. But the win will hopefully give the players the confidence and self-belief they will need in the weeks ahead.

Alresford lost their Andover Open Cup quarter-final tie 2-0 at home to Mottisfont on Tuesday night.

With a penalty shoot-out seemingly looming, two late Alan Bundy goals won the match for the visitors.