Alton manager Kevin Adair admitted his side weren’t at their best despite winning 3-1 at home to Guildford City in the Combined Counties Premier Division South.
Saturday’s win continued Alton’s excellent form – the Brewers have won 11 of their past 13 matches – and kept Alton in the final play-off spot in the league in fifth place.
The Brewers fell behind on 68 minutes. An excellent Mike Coppinger pass put Anthony Ogbanufe through, and he powered a low shot under diving Alton keeper Lewis Mees.
Alton responded well and equalised in the 76th minute.
Guildford were unable to clear a corner and Cam Miller was on the spot to smash the ball into the back of the net.
The hosts took the lead in the 83rd minute through an own goal, and the Brewers sealed the three points in stoppage time when Perry Coles’ shot found the far left-hand corner of the net.
“We weren’t at the levels we have been,” said Adair. “The tempo was too slow.
“Maybe teams have seen the run we’re on and are trying to stop our threats.
“At half-time we said the tempo needed to be quicker.
“When we went behind we changed from a 4-5-1 to a 3-5-2 – and it worked. It’s a system we’ve played in friendlies and have changed to a couple of times in competitive games.
“We’ve only had one defeat in 13 – against Farnham – and have now won five in a row.
“We’ve started to set higher targets. The group’s mentality going into games now is that we have to get something.
“Because the lads have played so well what might be an average performance can look like a bad performance.
“After the high of winning at Jersey it can be tough to do it again, but this group has now got six or seven leaders.
“We’ve still got seven or eight players out injured and are on this winning run.
“I can’t speak highly enough of the group.”
Alton will hope to continue their winning run when they travel to Fleet Town in the Combined Counties Premier Division South on Saturday afternoon (3pm), but Adair is expecting a tough test against another in-form team.
“Fleet are in good form so it promises to be a good advert for the league,” said Adair.
“Both teams will be confident heading into the game and will be looking to win.”