Alton manager Kevin Adair felt his side deserved better after they slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Balham in the Combined Counties Premier Division South on Saturday.

The hosts took the lead in the 11th minute, but new recruit Rowan Sharratt equalised for the Brewers on 38 minutes when he shot home from 20 yards. Balham retook the lead on 56 minutes, and Alton were unable to find an equaliser despite creating a number of good chances.

“We had eight to ten half-chances and they had three, but they scored two and we scored one,” said Adair. “It’s the highs and lows of football.

“Both teams tried to play on a difficult surface.

“Rowan has come in from Knaphill – I’ve got a good relationship with the management team there. It worked for us. He was on the bench for two games, and then got his opportunity this week. He affected the game.”

Next up for Alton is a trip to Horley Town in the Combined Counties Premier Division South on Saturday afternoon (3pm), and Adair says his side should approach the game with a confident mindset.

“We played Horley early on in the season and got our first three points against them,” he said. “They’re an energetic side, but we try to focus on ourselves first and then adjust to the opposition.

“We have to be confident. No-one wants to be in the position we’re in, but if we get three points it eases things. Since the turn of the year our performances have been good.

“Our decision making has been much better in the past ten games.”

Alton will travel to Badshot Lea in the semi-finals of the Aldershot Senior Cup after quarter-final opponents Frimley Green withdrew from the competition. Adair is looking forward to the semi-final.

“We had one of our best performances of the season in the first round of the cup against Hartley Wintney,” he said.

“People might say we are fortunate to get through the quarter-final, but we were 2-0 up at Frimley when the floodlights went out – we have done enough to deserve to be there.

“Badshot Lea will be looking to win the league, so it might not be top of their priorities, but I’m sure they will still have a strong side.”