Alresford Town 2 Fareham Town 1: CONSECUTIVE victories for the first time this season have made the picture at the bottom of the table a whole lot rosier for Alresford, who followed up their win over Fawley at the weekend with a repeat performance against Fareham.

For the second game running Rian Jima-Otero scored the Magpies’ opener. On nine minutes he was released through the middle by Ben Thomson’s perceptive pass, and beat Tommy Taylor at the third attempt after the Creeksiders’ keeper had blocked his first two shots.

A second goal followed from the penalty spot on 38 minutes. The assistant referee spotted a handball by Sean Howe, and Sam Carter smashed home the spot kick.

With Simon Everett and Gary Fulker winning plenty of ball in midfield and the makeshift central defensive pairing of Dan Molyneaux and Carl Steadman covering well, Alresford looked good. But in the second half the visitors came at them strongly. Nippy substitute Ben Read asked the home defence plenty of questions, and on 67 minutes a diagonal ball found fellow sub Josh Taylor in plenty of space on the right. He advanced to beat John Howard at his near post and drag it back to 2-1.

The impetus was with Fareham, and the home goal led a charmed life. On 84 minutes the hosts’ problems were compounded when Grant Young went flying into a challenge and was red-carded.

The ten men looked dead on their feet, but somehow negotiated the five minutes of added time to bring their points tally to six in four days and bring the clubs immediately above them in the table within touching distance.