In Mid-August Alton Ladies had a record of eleven from eleven with three games to go before a maiden win against Hursley Park, combined with a Cove concession suddenly gave the Alton Ladies a chance of survival in Hampshire Division 1.

Needing two wins from the last two games to secure safety, the Brewer’s Women won against New Forest to set up a final day thriller against Aldershot on the first weekend of September.

The Brewers lost the toss and were asked to field first, and for a while, it was a familiar story with the Aldershot pairing of Ella Chandler and Jo Harfield-Brown putting on 60 for the first wicket before Gemma Porter bowled Harfield-Brown (26).

Isabel Poole supported her captain playing some nice shots before Chandler was enticed down the track and clean-bowled, beaten by the flight off the bowling of Amelia Marshall.

Kirin Sahota and Emma Bentall put up a spirited fight, but both were removed by the young Alton fast bowling duet of Anoushka Gadsby (1/22) and Caitlin Wilmot (1/14).

The all-round bowling and fielding performance from the Brewers was excellent. Chasing 136 to win, the visitors lost an early wicket before skipper Jorja Wright (34) and Gemma Porter (29) put on a stand of 73.

A flurry of wickets brought the hosts back into the game before the reliable Mel Vaggers (34) put on stands with Tamsin Graveson and Lucy Butler to see the visitors home, and cue the celebrations as Alton retained their place in Div 1 for another season.