Alresford Town 2 Eversley & California 3: ALRESFORD Town failed to clear the first hurdle in the Hampshire Senior Cup, going down by the odd goal in five at the end of a blood-and-thunder game with Combined Counties Division 1 side Eversley and California.

Despite playing at a level below the Magpies, Eversley had made a fine start to the season and were unbeaten in the league before the game.

Alresford, by contrast, had chalked up just one victory but were keen to build on that in a competition they won back in 2012/13.

It took only four minutes for the visitors to open the scoring. Craig Smith crossed low and Brad Smith side-footed home from ten yards.

The second half started scrappily, but in the 53rd minute Liam Magee’s flicked header from a Ben Thomson corner levelled the scores.

On 65 minutes Eversley took the lead again. Home defender Ben Dexter slipped when trying to clear, and a couple of slick passes by Craig Smith and Louis Robson set up Will Neville, who smashed the ball past John Howard from close range.

Alresford fought back, and gained a numerical advantage on 82 minutes when Eversley’s Cameron Blackie was shown a red card for a late tackle on Craig Bryant.

On 87 minutes Alresford drew level once more thanks to a fine curling shot from Dan Fox on the corner of the penalty area.

But just when a penalty shoot-out seemed certain, Eversley won a corner on the left and Neville stooped to glance home his second goal of the evening.