An excellent defensive display clinches victory - but Alton's promotion hopes are over.

They were workmanlike rather than wonderful but Alton marked their final home game with victory over their neighbours from up the A331.

But Alton's promotion hopes have finally gone after second-placed Ellingham & Ringwood secured the point they needed to claim the sole promotion play-off spot.

It was a hard game for Alton, debilitating and occasionally frustrating, faced as they were by a resolute Farnborough side who enjoyed the bulk of possession and retained it well though they lacked a cutting-edge in attack.

Indeed, the quality of Farnborough's set-piece possession was, at times, markedly superior to Alton's and they were able to string to together multiple phases throughout the game - something their hosts struggled to do.

Alton's discipline was excellent, and their defence was unforgiving - a very different story from December's encounter when Alton's rearguard was repeatedly breached.

By contrast, Alton took their chances well and showed the greater menace, greater pace going forward.

Tries in each half by Jason Rees and Matthew Forsyth were enough to subdue Farnborough, for whom Kank Osbourne scored a late consolation.

Armed with a strong breeze and the notorious Anstey Park slope, it was inevitable that the visitors would dominate possession and territory from the outset.

What was not inevitable was that Alton would take the lead with their first piece of possession a full ten minutes into the match.

An innocuous looking three-quarter move was given additional impetus by outside-centre Dan Forsyth's break, and his well-timed pass gave Jason Rees - starting, unusually at full-back - space down the left flank.

Rees shaped to pass before stepping inside and outpacing the defence to score under the posts.

Alton went close seven minutes laters when Ed Clark was hauled down four yards short of the line, after another meaningful Rees intervention into the line put the wing into space on the right.

Farnborough came close to a try shortly before when a charging run from lock Mark Allen and swift hands from centre Paul Baker put Karl Morrey clear on the left, but a tremendous tackle from Alton stand-off Stephen Johns denied the wing a score.

Then Alton extended their lead six minutes after the interval with a moment of magic from goal-kicker Steven Ott.

Farnborough were penalised for offside just inside the Alton half and Ott, with the strong wind behind him, suavely slotted the penalty from a full 52 yards out.

Alton duly secured the points in the 66th minute when a catch and drive from a line-out - a weapon that have proved to be mightily effective all season - gave number-eight Matthew Forsyth his first try of the season.

Ott converted for a 17-0 lead but Alton could not add to their tally as handling errors and a curious lack of control at the set-pieces at crucial stages undermined much of the good approach play.

Farnborough were not done yet and a period of relentless pressure was eventually rewarded seven minutes from time when prop Osbourne showed a nifty step and a turn of pace to score in the left-hand corner.

Alton's are all but assured of third place in Hampshire 1 and their campaign comes to an end on 14 April with a trip to relegation-haunted Eastleigh, who will need a win to stay up.

Alton: Rees; Clark, D Forsyth, Ott, Ross (Ford 68); Johns, Grace; Watts, Parratt (c), Gay; Oliphant, White; Goodall (Greenhalgh 55), Davies, M Forsyth.

Tries: Rees (10), M Forsyth (66); Conversions: Ott (2); Penalty: Ott.

Farnborough: Martin; Morrey, P Baker, Angel, Barrett; Way, Veal; Wilder, Stewart, Osbourne; Eckersley, Allen; Green, Graham, Mead. Replacements. Beers, Bladin, S Baker.

Try: Osbourne (73).

Referee: R Hall (Hampshire Referees' Society)