FA Cup preliminary round

Alton Town 2

Merstham 1

MERSTHAM disappointedly crashed out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle after defeat against lower league Alton Town.

Ian Humble struck early in each half to put the Wessex Premier side into the next round while the Moatsiders continued to struggle in front of goal.

Alton made the perfect start in this frenetic encounter and took the lead in the 10th minute.

Carl Saunders caught Merstham unaware with a short free-kick and Humble blasted a 25-yard effort through a crowd of players into the goal. After failing to score from open play in their two league games, boss Graeme Banyard gave a start to Daniel Harding, Louis Sprosen and Harry Ottaway and the latter two combined well on 16 minutes.

Sprosen lifted the ball through to Ottaway but keeper Craig Atkinson produced a brilliant save to deny the striker from close range.

Atkinson continued to impress in the Alton goal after pushing a long range David Smith effort round the post and saving Dale Marvell's fierce shot at his near post.

The keeper even rode his luck at times after Michael Corbett saw his header cleared off the line from Marvell's corner. Merstham spurred a great opportunity on 37 minutes as Harding managed to chase down Atkinson's clearance but unluckily for the visitors the ball diverted onto the post.

Harding continued to chase the loose ball and struck a follow-up effort onto the bar to sum up the visitors' inept ability up front.

Alton, relieved to hear the half-time whistle, then doubled their advantage eight minutes after the restart. Simba Miambo drove through two challenges on the right wing and squared the ball back to Humble inside the area and the striker fired home past two defenders covering on the line.

Billy Marshall, Tony Reid and Freddie Myers came on as Merstham piled forward but Alton clung onto their lead although they almost converted into their own net after Smith's low cross was turned onto the crossbar.

Merstham kept pumping balls into the box and the tactic paid off as Tom Brown converted a Freddie Myers cross into his own net to give the visitors a lifeline with 10 minutes left.

Reid had the chance to save Merstham's blushes in the dying seconds.

But the striker headed Marshall's cross straight into Atkinson's hands from six yards.

Merstham: Smelt, Moriarty Cheadle (Reid), Goggin (C), Duke, Corbett, D Smith, Sprosen (Marshall), Ottaway, Harding, Marvell (Myers)

Unused Subs: Sheridan, Chatfield (GK).