ROMSEY were given a flying start to their new season in the shape of an own goal after just five minutes at Alton on Tuesday night.

But, although Town looked the better side for much of the game, they had to settle for their second draw in successive seasons at the North Hampshire club.

Alton survived some heavy pressure, particularly in the first-half and held firm and staged a determined late rally which earned them a point. The leveller came in the 70th minute, direct from a free-kick by Matt Rayner.

Romsey should have opened their fixtures at home to promoted Laverstock and Ford on Saturday, but the game had to be called off at the last minute because the club's player insurance was not in order.

"You can't play football unless you have the insurance in place and all clubs were told at June's annual general meeting that we needed this to be done at least 14 days before the start of the season," said Wessex League secretary Ian Craig.

The problem was solved in time for the Alton game, but it had left manager Glenn Burnett with the job of ringing 18 players to tell them the Laverstock one was off on Saturday.

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