Alton exited the Aldershot Senior Cup 4-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at home to Knaphill in the second round.

The Brewers started brightly and had the first chance of the afternoon in the seventh minute when Liam Marshall’s shot was well saved by Knappers keeper Sam Gray.

The visitors went close two minutes later when Rahman Ajibola’s shot went just wide of the far post.

Alton created their next chance on 22 minutes when Alex Merrifield’s cutback picked out Owen Tanner, but his shot was well blocked.

Louis Russell was next to try his luck for the Brewers in the 37th minute after cutting in from the right, but his shot went just wide of the far post.

Russell created a good opportunity a minute later when his cutback picked out Marshall, who dragged his shot just wide of the far post.

The Brewers went close again on 41 minutes when Tanner slipped a ball through to Marshall, and Marshall’s shot was superbly saved by Gray.

Tanner tried his luck in first-half stoppage time, but his shot went just wide.

Alton started the second half brightly and Marshall drove forward in the 51st minute before hitting his shot just wide of the left-hand post from the edge of the box.

The opening goal arrived three minutes later when Angela Zapata whipped in a dangerous corner which Jack Carrod diverted into his own net.

The Knappers nearly equalised on 66 minutes, but Alex McLean’s shot was superbly tipped behind for a corner by Alton keeper Theo Rust.

The visitors went close again five minutes later when Kingsley Anokye’s shot hit the post.

Tanner nearly doubled the home side’s advantage in the 78th minute, but his powerful shot from the edge of the box went just over the bar.

Marshall went close for the Brewers on 86 minutes when he cut in from the right and hit a left-foot shot which was well held by Gray.

The Brewers were made to pay for those missed chances in the 88th minute when a long ball over the top picked out Daryl Cooper-Smith, who drilled his finish past Rust.

The Knappers then held their nerve in the penalty shoot-out to knock Alton out of the Aldershot Senior Cup.

Next up for Alton is a trip to Fleet Town in the Combined Counties Premier Division South on Tuesday evening (7.45pm kick-off).