Team Solent 4 Alresford Town 1: ALRESFORD Town’s two-game mini winning streak came to an end after a severe examination by the young, fit, enthusiastic and talented students of Team Solent at Test Park.

But it was the students who had to learn a stark lesson in the first half. Because despite dominating against an Alresford side depleted by injuries and absences, they went in level at half time.

The home side had a deflected shot well saved after just 40 seconds, and by the time they went ahead after 11 minutes, through a Martin Johnson header, they had already carved out six clear cut chances and had a goal disallowed.

As Alresford struggled to get to grips with their pace and movement, that profligacy continued. Jesse Waller-Larssen and Oluwatori Adekunle squandered ten first half chances on their own.

Gradually, though, the Solent storm began to blow itself out, and after Ollie Yates brought the best out of the Solent keeper with a free kick, the visitors struck back on 35 minutes.

A quick, accurate interchange saw John Howard play Rian Jima-Otero through. The youngster’s confident finish gave him his third goal in as many games, and Alresford an unlikely parity at half time.

For ten minutes after the break, the game was in the balance – Gary Fulker drove Alresford forward, and they pressed and probed, but couldn’t find a finish.

The home side weathered that little storm, and began to apply relentless pressure. They got their reward after 66 minutes, when Alresford failed to clear a corner, and Ade Olumuyiwa scored from close range.

Alresford pressed back gamely, but as they tired they twice left themselves open by losing the ball needlessly in their opponents’ last third. The students capitalised on both occasions.

So the Magpies failed this examination in the end – but they have to pass at least half a dozen of the league tests they face in the next two months to ensure survival.