Alton manager Kevin Adair lamented his side’s Jekyll and Hyde nature after they fell to a 2-1 defeat at Abbey Rangers in the Combined Counties Premier Division South on Saturday afternoon.

The opening goal arrived on 40 minutes. Jamie Hoppit crashed a header against the home side’s crossbar from a corner, but 20 seconds later the ball was in the visitors’ net following a lightning-quick break to the other end that was finished by Jack Carrod.

With just a minute to go before the half-time whistle another Alton corner caused chaos, and following a goalmouth scramble Louis Russell’s close-range shot was somehow cleared off the line.

Alton needed a fast start to the second half but were further rocked when hesitancy in the penalty area allowed the ball to bounce unchallenged into the six-yard box and gift the unmarked Spencer Maw a simple finish.

The visitors lifted their game in the last half hour and pushed forward, striking the woodwork on two occasions before Ed Dryden was in the right place at the back post on 84 minutes to reduce the deficit.

The Brewers pushed for an equaliser, but a couple of half chances didn’t fall their way as the visitors slipped to defeat.

Adair was disappointed with his side’s performance after the high of their 3-0 victory at high-flying Guildford City in their previous game.

“It was a weird game – we didn’t play at the level we are capable of,” said Adair.

“It’s another example of the Jekyll and Hyde nature of our side at the moment. After the highs of the performance against Guildford we had the lows against Abbey Rangers.

“We can’t string a run of wins together. We win a game and then lose a game – that’s mid-table form and as a result we are mid-table.

“Our quality is good enough on any given day to win games of football – but we need to deliver on a more consistent basis. That’s the next challenge for us as a group.”

Next up for the Brewers is a home game against Redhill in the Combined Counties Premier Division South on Saturday (3pm), and Adair is hoping for a return to winning ways.

“Redhill will be a tough game on Saturday as they have started the season well, but we will be going into the game looking for the win,” he said.