Altrincham 2 Solihull Moors 1 (From Messenger Newspapers)

Altrincham 2 Solihull Moors 1

10:55am Thursday 14th March 2013 in Sport

ALTRINCHAM faced a strong physical test from a robust Solihull Moors side at a cold Moss Lane last night.

But, despite missing their seventh penalty of the season and the opposition finishing with nine men, it took a goal in the last minute of normal time to clinch the points for the Robins.

In an attritional first-half, the Moors went the closest as Omar Bogle's header thumped against the Altrincham crossbar.

But, nine minutes after the interval, Duncan Watmore cut through the central defence of Solihull and was brought down by Langdon, who was sent off for his offence.

Shaun Densmore, who had scored confidently from the spot in Alty's last outing, this time shot weakly and goalkeeper Singh saved his penalty-kick easily.

Finally, Altrincham did get ahead when a close range effort from Reeves seemed to ricochet off a defender and dribble over the goalline, on the hour mark.

Despite being a man short, Solihull threw on the burly striker Gary Birch and attacked Altrincham. This paid off seven minutes from the end of normal time when Bogle was one of three Moors' players left unmarked and he slotted his shot past Stuart Coburn to make it 1-1.

With Altrincham struggling to get forward, it was susbtitute James Lawrie who scored Alty's second from 12 yards with just 20 seconds of normal time remaining.

But there were to be more than seven minutes of added time, prompted by injuries and then a melee which occurred three minutes into the added period.

After Duncan Watmore had bemused three opponents as he got along the touchline, the ball went out for a goalkick. Moors' captain Spencer apparently picked up the ball and threw it, striking Alty's Paddy Lacey, and a fracas erupted. After consulting his assistant Spencer was dismissed, reducing his side to nine men.

The win lifted Alty back up to fifth place, a play-off position that they will seek to consolidate on a trip to Colwyn Bay this Saturday.