Alton earned an impressive 1-0 win against Wessex League Premier Division outfit Laverstock & Ford in a pre-season friendly at Anstey Park Enclosure.

The home side enjoyed the majority of the play in the first half and nearly took the lead in the first minute with a shot which hit the post before the visitors hacked the ball clear to safety.

The Brewers went close again to taking the lead on ten minutes when Perry Coles’ powerful shot hit the crossbar and bounced to safety.

Alton went close again on 16 minutes when Darnell McDonald beat his man on the left wing and hit a powerful left-foot shot cross the face of goal and just wide of the far right-hand post.

The Brewers nearly broke the deadlock in the 40th minute when Jamie Hoppitt won the ball on the right and tried to chip the Laverstock keeper, but his effort went just over the bar.

The second half was more even, but the home side continued to press and went close to scoring on 69 minutes when a cross-shot hit the crossbar.

Alton went close again in the 76th minute when McDonald broke clear down the left wing and chipped his effort from a tight angle just over the bar.

McDonald had another chance on 81 minutes, but his left-foot shot was well held by the Laverstock keeper.

Alton’s pressure finally paid off in the 89th minute, when Coles curled a superb right-foot free kick into the top right-hand corner of the net.

Next up for the Brewers is a pre-season friendly at home to Wessex League Premier Division outfit Baffins Milton Rovers on Saturday, July 27 (3pm).