Alton manager Kevin Adair was delighted with his side after they won 3-0 at Guildford City in the Combined Counties Premier Division South on Saturday afternoon.

The visitors thoroughly deserved the three points.

The game was affected by a strong end-to-end wind blowing and a cut on the grass that was long enough to hinder and slow the roll of the ball.

Alton started sluggishly, but after Matt Graham converted a penalty won by Scott Sanderson on 15 minutes they took a stranglehold on the game.

The home side were restricted to one decent chance in the rest of the first half, although the Brewers did not create too much themselves before the interval.

The visitors set the tone at the start of the second half.

Louis Russell latched on to a short backpass and rounded the stranded Guildford keeper, but a home defender somehow got back and cleared Russell’s effort off the line.

Alton were now dominating the game. A couple of other chances went begging before the second goal arrived on 66 minutes to give the Brewers some breathing space.

Sanderson finished from close range after the home side were cut open and Oli Page rolled a ball across the six-yard box for a very simple finish.

On 82 minutes another break of the defensive line down the right by Jamie Hoppitt led to him cutting the ball back for another simple tap-in, but this time retreating home defender Jack Cleevely got there first and scuffed the ball into his own net.

Alton boss Adair was pleased to pick up the three points.

“The first half was not the best but we got in front with the penalty,” he said.

“At half-time we talked about how we could open Guildford up, and it was pleasing to see the players deliver that in the second half.

“Two youngsters – Jake Coltart and Ollie Kavanagh – came off the bench late on for their first-team debuts, which was pleasing.

“The youngsters here know they will get their chance.

“Sometimes they have to be patient to wait for that chance, but they will get it and it’s then down to them to perform when the opportunity arrives.”

The three points at Guildford moved Alton up to 11th place in the Combined Counties Premier Division South table, with 11 points from their first eight league games.

Next up for the Brewers is a trip to Abbey Rangers in the Combined Counties Premier Division South on Saturday (3pm), and Adair is hoping to build on his side’s solid start to the season.

“I always said you can judge us at the beginning or middle of October – and we are getting to that point now,” he said.

“We face Abbey on Saturday – who did well last season – before facing a Redhill side who have started well, so we will know where we are after that.”