SIX-SHOOTING Alton Town recorded their biggest ever Jewson Wessex League victory with a 6-1 demolition of Bournemouth Poppies at Anstey Road on Saturday.
The shattering defeat prompted angry Poppies boss Keith Williams to lock his players in the changing rooms for a full 30 minutes after the game.
Alton had to wait patiently until the 44th minute before Richard Mealey finally headed the home side in front and then they blitzed Bournemouth with five goals in just 20 second-half minutes.
After 55 minutes, a neat interchange down the right between Danny McGarry and John Edwards ended with McGarry firing home from 12 yards before Dave Bridger beat the keeper in a one-on-one just two minutes later.
Mealey lobbed the keeper for his second and Alton's fourth on the hour mark, Bridger then rounded the keeper for number five and Ian Dyer cut in from the left to hammer his shot past the bemused Bournemouth keeper on 75 minutes.
At least Poppies could lay claim to the best goal of the game, Ross Drew smashing in a thunderous 35-yarder for some consolation six minutes from time.
AFC Newbury go into their final game of the season this afternoon - a home Berkshire derby against Thatcham Town (3pm) - on a high after beating Bemerton Heath Harlequins 2-0 at Faraday Road.
They took the lead after 22 minutes from the penalty spot when Anthony Alleyne was tugged back in the area and skipper James Caswell stepped up to convert from 12 yards.
Newbury made the points safe in the 70th minute as Geoff Neville rounded off a well-worked move by tucking the ball into an empty net from just inside the penalty area.
Having lost their keeper Max Frampton with a broken toe, Christchurch then saw his replacement Steve Rudge break a bone in his foot during the 2-2 draw with Lymington & New Milton.
"Unfortunately he's accidentally kicked the underside of another player's foot and broken a bone in his foot - at least he was able to complete the match," said co-manager Nigel Cripps.
The visitors were given the perfect start when Ross Edwards rifled them ahead after just four minutes but the Linnets were level by the tenth minute as Kevin Gill's cross found Matt Town who side-footed home.
Gill then cracked home a loose bouncing ball in the penalty area after 53 minutes but the Priory men secured their point 90 seconds later when Gary Horlock chipped the keeper.
On the Island, Cowes and Fareham slugged out a goalless draw with Cowes boss Derek Ohren saying: "It was a pretty fair result. Both teams created chances but the longer the match went on, the more it looked like ending up at 0-0."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article