Alresford Town 1 Hamworthy United 2: THE MAGPIES lost in agonising fashion to a Kane Daysh goal in the eighth minute of added time after an even, good quality contest on an autumnal afternoon at Arlebury Park.

Alresford welcomed keeper Jason Collins back to his former club, and the Hamworthy man responded in positive fashion by producing a string of good saves. Magpies stopper Mike Weatherall, by contrast, had less to do but finished the match in the dressing room after being sent off for handball outside the box.

Possession was fairly even throughout, but the home defence was in good form with Ben Dexter a commanding presence in the air. Alresford carved out more clear-cut chances, with Sam Carter seeing an early shot blocked after a good run by Ben Stanbrook down the left. Carter came close on 32 minutes with a free kick towards the top corner, but Collins made an acrobatic save to keep the sides level. He then dived to keep out John Howard in a one-on-one, while at the other end Ben Satterley came closest for the Hammers but shot wide when well placed.

Despite the loss of Harry Draycott to a recurrence of his knee trouble, Alresford continued in positive vein after the break. Hamworthy needed a headed clearance off the line to maintain parity.

But on 74 minutes came the crucial moment that changed the game. An Alresford attack was halted by an accidental interception by the referee that presented the visitors with a run on goal. The Magpies managed to repel the first attacking wave, but never regained possession and held their heads in disbelief as Matt Kemble, with Hamworthy’s first serious effort on target, saw his shot take a big deflection and loop over Weatherall to put the visitors one up.

Alresford threw caution to the wind as they searched for an equaliser, leaving gaps at the back which the Hammers tried to exploit. There were chances at both ends, Jamie Bentley clearing home lines after Weatherall had parried a Paddy Hester shot while Collins could only watch as Carter’s shot was deflected wide.

In the third minute of added time Alresford grabbed the equaliser – but still managed to lose the game. With Collins now nursing an injury the hosts’ star man Carter produced another gem of a free kick that curled in at the near post.

But the Magpies couldn’t hold out. A long punt downfield led to a mix-up between Bentley and Weatherall, and the keeper was forced to handle the centre-back’s header to avert an open goal. He was duly sent off, and although he had a capable deputy in Howard, Alresford’s second keeper couldn’t keep out Daysh’s curling free kick.

So Alresford ended the game empty-handed – again – and remain bottom of the table. They didn’t play badly in this match, but do require just a little bit of luck to start putting points on the board again.