Injury blow mars Alty win (From Messenger Newspapers)

Injury blow mars Alty win

10:09am Wednesday 6th March 2013 in Sport

BEN Mills’ loan spell at Moss Lane may have come to an abrupt end after he was taken to hospital with what looked a serious knee injury at Droylsden on Tuesday night.

Altrincham reinforced their promotion play-off claims with a second win in three days, as they followed up an impressive 3-1 scoreline over Oxford City with a 5-0 demolition of seemingly-doomed Droylsden.

But it was overshadowed by an unpunished challenge from behind on Mills that curtailed his involvement, and possibly his loan stay, shortly after he fired home Alty’s second goal. It typified an uncompromising approach by the home side that went largely unchecked by an over-lenient referee.

Alty boss Lee Sinnott was unhappy that a lack of protection from the officials left more of his players in danger of injury, and he chose his words carefully, as he said: “I had a quiet word with the referee afterwards, just to express my concerns, but I’ll leave it at that.

‘Ben was stretchered off and then taken to hospital, and it is a case now of waiting to hear the extent of the injury. My assistant Neil Tolson spoke to the Chester manager Neil Young straight after the final whistle to put him in the picture, so we will see what the news is.

‘It is a shame, because Ben has looked bright so far, and has led the line really well, and he was certainly good value for his goal.”

On a brighter note, Damian Reeves contributed four goals to the six-point haul to confirm his return to form.

“He just loves scoring goals, and it was always going to happen that he would be back on the scoresheet,” added Sinnott, ahead of Saturday’s game at Bradford Park Avenue.

“I want to see our forwards banging the goals in, but the point is, we have to supply the ammunition for them. I felt we could have done a bit better in that respect, even if we did score five at Droylsden.

“At this stage of the season, it becomes a mad dash for the line, and you just hope the breaks go your way. You’ll take goals going in off someone’s backside, if need be, because it’s all about points. I actually felt we could have played better at Droylsden, but it’s points first and performance second between now and the end of the campaign.”