It was back to Premier Division South action for the Sheers following the disappointment of last week – a loss on penalties against Brimscombe & Thrupp.
The visitors, Alton FC, should have taken an early lead when a left wing cross from Knight presented Russell with a free header from eight yards but he missed the target. Another headed effort soon followed as Dryden planted his effort over.
The hosts had a decent chance when presented with a free kick twenty-five yards out from a central position. Danilo Cadete curled his effort around the wall with pace but it was too close to Mees and he tipped over at full stretch. Josh Dillon made room for a shot but it lacked real power, allowing Mees to palm it away for a corner. Cameron Edwin got in on the action following a pass from Davis but he could only find the side netting.
Alton held the upper hand as the half progressed and broke the deadlock on thirty-eight minutes. A long throw was flicked on by Dryden and Brice crept in at the far post to bury a header past Sheers' goalkeeper Harvey Rackley-Hayes.
Two changes were made by Michael Herbert at half time, with Callum Coen and Hugo Silveira introduced. The changes injected some life into the Sheers and they put Alton on the back foot, forcing a number of corners. Luke Cox got his delivery spot on in the fifty-fourth minute, allowing Sam Green to power home a header in a crowded six-yard box.
It could have been 2-1 minutes later. Edwin fed Coen, he picked out the run of Dillon who volleyed over on the run. Dillon had an even better chance when a cross from Cox found him six yards out and he couldn’t find the target.
Luke Taylor was introduced and created a chance for himself straight away. His effort was blocked and Edwin got in a good position in the area but chose not to shoot and was ushered away from goal and the danger cleared.
Rackley-Hayes was called in to action late on; a sprawling save to his right from an effort by Mdlaalose.
In the end, a draw was about the right result. Alton bossed the first half and Sheerwater fought back well in the second half.
SHEERWATER: Rackley-Hayes, Prestidge (Silveira 46'), Loftsmith, Cox, Green, Gritt, Cadete (Cooper 90'), Edwin, Dillon (Taylor 74'), Shaw, Davis (Coen 46')