AFC Portchester 1 Alresford Town 2: ALRESFORD Town closed out 2018 with a victory in this Wessex League Premier Division encounter on Saturday, a result which moved them into the top six in the table.

The Magpies enjoyed a relatively comfortable afternoon up until the last quarter of the game.

Alresford took the lead on 14 minutes when the home defence failed to keep track of a ball played straight down the middle of the pitch. Scott Munro latched on to it on the edge of the area and his first touch took it past keeper Charlie Searle before he rifled his shot into the roof of the net.

The Magpies doubled their lead on 54 minutes. They worked the ball into the penalty area and, after an exchange of quick passes, George Farrelly tucked the ball home from close range.

Alresford went close to scoring again 12 minutes later when Paul Coventry picked up the ball 25 yards from goal and his chipped shot hit the crossbar.

Portchester got forward down the right on 77 minutes and when a low cross was driven in towards the near post the ball hit Adam Pearson’s legs and he could only watch as it flew into his own net.