Alton squandered a 2-0 lead as they slipped to a late 3-2 defeat at home to Tadley Calleva in the Combined Counties Premier Division South.

First-half goals from Adam Poynter and Charlie Postance saw the Brewers race into an early 2-0 lead, but second-half goals from Ash Neal (2) and Kieran Rodgers gave the visitors the three points at Anstey Park Enclosure.

Tadley won a free kick in the first minute and nearly took the lead when Jack French’s flick on found Rodgers, who put his effort over the bar from close range.

The visitors won another free kick on four minutes and French’s effort was well parried around the post by Alton keeper Adam Melville.

The Brewers responded well to the early pressure and took the lead in the fifth minute through their first attack.

Lamar Koroma drove forward from midfield and slipped a pass to Siph Mdalolose, who helped the ball on to Poynter and Poynter stroked a composed finish past Tadley keeper Craig Atkinson and into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

Tadley nearly got back on level terms five minutes later when they worked the ball up the pitch to Rodgers, whose effort was well saved by Melville.

The Brewers doubled their advantage in slightly fortunate circumstances on 25 minutes when Atkinson’s throw hit Postance, who took advantage of the Tadley keeper’s error and found the back of the net.

Alton nearly scored a third three minutes later when Poynter drilled a superb ball across goal from the left which was just out of reach of Postance.

Poynter was proving to be a real threat and he beat his man on 40 minutes before hitting a left-foot shot straight at Atkinson.

Poynter called Atkinson into action again two minutes later with a shot which was well held by the Tadley keeper.

The Brewers were quickly out of the traps at the start of the second half and nearly scored a third in the 48th minute.

A corner was cleared to Owen Tanner on the edge of the box, and Tanner’s effort was well cleared off the line.

Tadley got back into the game three minutes later when Aime Kamdem’s inviting cross from the right was headed home by Neal from close range to make it 2-1.

Alton nearly restored their two-goal advantage on 58 minutes when Mdalolose’s clipped ball in from the right found Tanner, who was unable to force the ball home from a promising position.

The hosts went close to a third again in the 72nd minute when Poynter slipped a neat through ball to Mdalolose, who hit a powerful right-foot shot which was well held by Atkinson.

Poynter continued to continued cause the visitors problems and delivered a superb ball in from the left a minute later which just evaded several Alton attackers.

Postance was next to go close for the hosts on 77 minutes when his powerful left-foot strike went just wide of the right-hand post.

Alton were made to pay for their missed chances a minute later when the visitors got back on level terms. Rodgers turned on the edge of the box before finding the back of the net via the inside of the right-hand post to make it 2-2.

The visitors completed the turnaround in the 87th minute when Neal scored from close range to give Tadley the three points.

Tadley were reduced to ten men in stoppage time when Kieron Farmer was sent off for a poor challenge.

Next up for Alton is a home game against Balham in the Combined Counties Premier Division South on Saturday, January 18 (3pm kick-off).