Crookham Rovers U23s bounced back from a heavy defeat in their first game of the new season, with an emphatic 6-2 away victory over Alton at the Exclusive Networks stadium, to kick-start their campaign.
Despite a rocky start, which saw Alton take an early lead through an own goal and a follow-up strike, Rovers showed resilience and determination to turn the game around.
Alton’s initial pressure paid off with two goals in the opening 15 minutes, but the visitors soon responded. Kyle Duffin sparked the comeback for Crookham Rovers, who equalised before half-time, when Zach Hansell putting his team ahead with a composed finish.
The second half belonged entirely to Crookham Rovers. Duffin netted his second of the game, followed by a sensational strike from Ibrahim Yetik, whose powerful effort from the edge of the box, after a flowing move down the right wing, was the standout goal of the day. Hansell rounded off the scoring with two more goals, completing a well-deserved hat-trick.
The midfield quartet of Nate Holloway, Harrison Stedman, Luke Gorton, and Jake Bailey were instrumental in the team’s performance, providing both defensive cover and attacking support throughout the match.
Speaking after the game, Rovers' manager Andrew Barber praised his team’s spirit and work ethic: “I couldn’t be prouder of the lads today. After going two goals down, it would’ve been easy to lose confidence, but they stuck together and fought back brilliantly. The effort from every single player was outstanding, and it shows the strength of our squad ethic. This win was fully deserved.”
The victory marks an important moment for Crookham Rovers U23s, as they look to build momentum early in their league campaign.