Blues extend their lead at the top after home win against Alton
Fleet Town continued their remarkable start to the season with another impressive performance and a comfortable 3–0 victory over old rivals Alton at the Easy As HGV Stadium.
n front of another excellent crowd of over 500, swelled by a good number of travelling Alton supporters, the Blues started strongly and rarely took their foot off the pedal.
Fleet thought they had made the perfect start when Alex MacAllister was slipped through and finished confidently, only for the assistant referee to raise his flag for offside. It was a frustrating moment, but the Blues continued to dominate possession and put the visitors under sustained pressure.
The breakthrough finally arrived on 26 minutes, and it was two locally born Blues who combined to open the scoring. Sam Bartlett delivered an excellent cross into the area and Ollie Burke was there at the near post to nod home and give Fleet a deserved 1–0 lead.
Fleet continued to control proceedings for the remainder of the half and came agonisingly close to doubling their advantage right on the stroke of half-time. An incredible goalmouth scramble saw three separate efforts blocked on or around the line as Alton somehow survived and went into the break just one goal behind.
The pattern of the game changed little after the restart. Fleet continued to enjoy the majority of possession, while Alton struggled to build any sustained pressure or seriously trouble the Blues at the other end.
The all-important second goal arrived on 65 minutes. George Wallace was brought down by a cynical challenge and, from the resulting free-kick, picked himself up to deliver a superb ball into the area. MacAllister rose brilliantly to meet it and powered his header home to finally get the goal his performance deserved and give Fleet a 2–0 advantage.
With the Blues now firmly in control, the result was put beyond doubt on 79 minutes. Wallace was again the provider, sending another excellent deep delivery into the box where captain Aaron Burchett rose highest to crash a powerful header home for 3–0.
It was a fitting end to a superb individual performance from the skipper, who was named Man of the Match. Burchett had been badly winded during the first half and at one stage looked as though he might not be able to continue, but battled on to produce an outstanding display before capping it with a goal.
Fleet comfortably saw out the remaining minutes to secure another three points and another clean sheet, completing a thoroughly professional afternoon’s work.
It was another excellent victory for the Blues and one which extends our lead at the top of the Combined Counties Premier Division South to four points over Knaphill.
There is little time to dwell on it, though, with an opportunity to strengthen that position further when Badshot Lea visit the Easy As HGV Stadium this Tuesday night, kick-off 7.45pm.
