AFTER two successive league defeats, Altrincham bounced back with an ultimately convincing win on Monday night at Bradford. But the evening started badly as the Robins fell behind inside the game's opening two minutes. The Robins failed to deal with a probe up the Avenue right side and the ball fell for Nicky Boshell, brother of former Alty midfielder Danny, who drove home the first goal of the match.

With the Yorkshiremen having the better of things, Altrincham nevertheless got level in the 20th minute when Damian Reeves hammered home a shot from the edge of the box. But Bradford regained the lead ten minutes later when a freekick, awarded against Alty's Wilkinson, was not cleared properly, and the Bradford manager's son, Jordan Deacey scored.

However, three minutes before the interval a speculative "up and under"

from Nicky Clee was brilliantly controlled by Damian Reeves who, without hesitation, slotted the ball past the stranded keeper.

On a gluepot of a pitch, much of the play after the break was not pretty but Altrincham edged ahead in fortunate fashion, eighteen minutes from time. New midfielder Greg Wilkinson hit a hopeful low shot from 30 yards and saw it deflect into the net off defender James Knowles, who arguably should have been sent off a little later for a foul when he had previously been booked.

Nicky Clee sealed the game for the visitors when he fired home a 30-yard freekick, low to the keeper's left, with 11 minutes remaining.

Altrincham then wound down the clock efficiently to condemn the Yorkshiremen to their second successive 4-2 defeat in a two day period.

This was a hard-earned win in which Altrincham showed a great deal of character on a surface which did not lend itself to flair.

Next up is an FA Trophy match away at Colwyn Bay this Saturday, for which a supporters' coach is operating. Ring the club on 928-1045 to book your place.

Altrincham: Coburn, Densmore (capt), Havern, Leather, Doughty, Wilkinson, Moult, Richman, Clee, Walshaw, Reeves. Subs: Smikle, Rodgers, Perry and Pouncey.