Altrincham 1 Colwyn Bay 1 (From Messenger Newspapers)

Altrincham 1 Colwyn Bay 1

1:09pm Sunday 24th February 2013 in Sport

WHEN Colwyn Bay arrived at Moss Lane on Saturday, Altrincham found themselves facing a club from the bottom four of the table for the third successive game.

And the Robins had lost the previous two games, at lowly Histon and Workington.

The Bay, newly managed by former Chelsea player Frank Sinclair, had drawn 2-2 with second-placed Guiseley in midweek so arrived in confident mood.

Yet, all seemed to be going Alty's way when they breezed into a 10th-minute lead as captain Shaun Densmore scored from Simon Richman's right-wing feed with a low shot across the keeper, Chris Sanna.

But, before the interval, Alty keeper Stuart Coburn twice had to stop goalbound shots from Colwyn's striker, Rob Hopley. The second save was an excellent block after the big number nine had got free of Alty's defence.

However, it took the Welshmen just 12 minutes of the second half to get a deserved equaliser. Former Alty man Alex Meechan had won a corner with an excellent turn and shot, which Coburn tipped over the bar. But Alty's stopper was unable to hold the corner-kick and it drifted to the back post where Hopley banged it into the net.

Despite the presence of debutant loan striker Ben Mills, from Chester City, Altrincham lacked their customary bite up front. Duncan Watmore, deployed this time on the flanks, was the home side's most lively attacker but Altrincham rarely threatened the Bay keeper with any serious attempts at goal.

Substitutes Nicky Clee and James Lawrie came on to add some additional attacking prowess but it was Colwyn Bay who went closest to clinching a win.

Indeed, it needed another smart stop fom Coburn to stop the visitors' substitute Jamie Crowther from recording an 85th minute clincher.

So, Altrincham ended a miserable week in which they had gleaned just one point from the nine available and lost ground on the play-off contenders in the Blue Square Bet North division.

After a Tuesday trip to Cheltenham to play Gloucester City, Alty are at home to Oxford City next Saturday (3pm).

ALTRINCHAM: Coburn; Densmore (capt), Havern, Hall, Doughty; Richman, Moult, Rodgers, Watmore; Reeves, Mills. Subs: Bullen, Clee, L