Alton manager Kevin Adair praised his side’s second-half performance after they came from behind to beat Spelthorne Sports 2-1 in the Combined Counties Premier Division South on Saturday.

Spelthorne were the better side in the first half and deserved their 1-0 lead at the interval – the visitors were first to the ball and pressed the home side well.

Spelthorne took the lead on 27 minutes through Jamie Fuller’s clinical finish into the bottom right-hand corner past the stranded Lewis Mees.

Alton equalised two minutes into the second half. A corner was cleared as far as Matt Graham on the left, and he delivered a superb ball back into the box where Pat Cox headed home accurately from 12 yards out past the flat-footed Spelthorne keeper.

The winning goal came on 75 minutes. A long throw-in was flicked on by Cox to Perry Coles, who had stolen in unnoticed at the back post and finished calmly.

The three points moved Alton up to a healthy seventh place in the Combined Counties Premier Division South.

Adair was disappointed with his side’s efforts in the first half, but was delighted with their reaction after the break.

“The first half was a good reminder that you always have to be at it at this level,” said Adair.

“A neutral may have looked at the first half and said a draw would have been a fair score, but I think we deserved to be behind as I know what we are capable of and we weren’t playing to the levels we are able to.

“We got the equaliser early in the second half through Pat’s header, and then Perry gets the winner to keep our good run going.

“Once we were ahead I thought we were pretty comfortable.”

Alton have now won their past five games in all competitions, and kept four clean sheets in the process.

Next up for Alton is a mouthwatering trip to Combined Counties Premier Division South leaders Farnham Town on Friday night in the A31 derby (7.45pm).

Adair is expecting a difficult game, but is looking forward to the challenge.

“I have got nothing but praise for Farnham and what they are doing,” said Adair.

“The results they are getting speak for themselves.

“We’re going there in good form and with some good momentum – which is what we wanted.

“The main thing for us is to play to the levels we are capable of.

“Farnham have great quality in their squad, but we need to play to our levels.”