Southampton took to the field with a number of players in unusual positions, whilst the injury list happily tucked into a gourmet dinner of fish pie, bread and butter pudding and a fine cheese and biscuit selection; courtesy of the Alton committee. Thanks for that!!

The game itself started with an early chance for the visitors as Alton were penalised for holding on. Pierre stepped up, but couldn't find the target. He was soon in action again though, cutting through the defence with a sidestep Wade Dooley would have died for. It took some desperate defending to hold him up two yards short, but luckily the ref had spotted something he didn't like and awarded Saints a penalty in front of the posts. No mistake from Pierre this time and Saints led 3 nil after 5 minutes.

The game seemed to be fairly even, but Saints got an advantage thanks to some ill discipline from Alton. A penalty for talking back only seemed to frustrate them more and they were down to fourteen players soon after, when the Alton 5 threw the ball away from a penalty.

The resulting kick was drilled into the corner and prompted a good catch from the line. Quick ball opened out into midfield where Aaron Nelson, returning with added belly after a two year break, crashed through only to be held up yards short. His blistering pace must have left his support trailing though, for he was penalised for not releasing in the tackle.

Alton cleared to halfway, where they launched a series of attacks that drove them to within 5 yards of the Saints line. The Saints throw was tapped back but bobbled loose, only for an Alton hand to gather and touch down for the game's first try. The conversion, from wide on the right, failed to find the target leaving the score 5-3 at half time.

The second half started much like the first- with an early missed penalty by Saints. But Alton's discipline let them down again and when they conceded another penalty, Pierre sent the ball deep into the corner. The forwards then set up a solid platform from which Paul Brant spun quick ball out to midfield. Aaron Nelson again broke through at centre, but was held up a yard short.

Saints were finding holes in the Alton back line and their first try came soon after. Pierre chipped the ball over the advancing back line, gathered his kick and touched down under the posts. He finished the job by converting his own try, giving Saints the lead 5-10.

Alton had not given up though and a great break down the left was only halted by a big tackle by Aaron Nelson, driving the winger into touch. It was Saints to score next though, when an optimistic crossfield kick was caught by John Sharpe. He popped it back inside to Aaron Nelson who crossed for a well-deserved try. The game then momentarily entered the realm of the surreal; when number eight Adam Grogan stepped up to effortlessly slot the conversion from a frankly ridiculous angle.

But Alton had possibly heard about Saints' recent problems hanging on to a lead and refused to give up. A big crash through the centre looked worrying for Saints and when the ball was spun wide left, it took a great tackle by John Sharpe to keep the home side out. Steve Dewey was also making big tackles; his best effort maybe owing less to pre-emptive positional play and more to lazy running.

Alton were on the attack again soon after. Supporting each other well, they recycled the ball menacingly before a forward pass ruined their attack. The Saints fans were starting to get worried and when winger James Parks was sent to the sin bin for a clumsy clothesline, the last eight minutes promised to be tense.

True to form, Saints did their best to balls it up at the end when the Alton pack drove over from a five yard line out. The kicker couldn't convert it though and luckily the clock was on Saints' side this week. The ref blew his whistle; Saints had won 10-17.

Important victory for Saints, who will be looking to bolster their team with returning sicknotes over the next few weeks.