A win wouldn’t have been undeserved for Alresford, who were the better team in the first half, and missed chances in the second which could have made the game safe. But as Robbie Burns might have said, a point’s a point for a’that.

With Brian Howard, Harry Draycott and Simon Everett passing the ball smoothly against a tentative Fawley, Alresford dominated the opening exchanges without threatening the home side’s goal.

The visitors got an unpleasant reminder of how the direct approach can pay off when Fawley skipper Callum Tanner hit the outside of Mike Weatherall’s right hand post with their first real attack.

Half time had almost arrived without the goal the Magpies’ control deserved.
But then a crunching tackle from Ben Stanbrook won the ball in the inside left channel, fed Sammy Carter and his first time left wing centre was steered in at the far post by Tom Donaldson. Simple isn’t it, football?

Well…. maybe. The second half saw the home side – pumped, I suspect, by a half time rollicking, pressing hard. Nevertheless, Alresford were unlucky with two good chances to score.

First the brothers Howard combined, Brian playing in John. His clever chip hit the bar, perhaps with a slight deflection off the Fawley keeper’s glove. Then, with Alresford pressing after a free kick, John Mulhern shot over at full stretch.
The game turned not on those misses, but on two injuries. First, Jamie Bentley had to leave the centre of defence, still suffering from the effects of the kick he got against Tadley Calleva.

And ten minutes after half time, Harry Draycott’s knee problem forced him out of the midfield fray. With the Magpies still off balance after reorganizing, Fawley took a short corner, and centre forward Dan Fry headed Fawley’s equaliser.

Alresford dug in – Sammy Carter shot over, Adam Carrick made a great saving tackle with seven minutes left. A point apiece.
The basis, perhaps, for a recovery – time will tell. A similar result on Tuesday at high-flying Lymington will be a welcome fillip. But more important are the four home games which follow. The results of those will confirm if recovery is really under way…

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