Lincoln City 1 Altrincham 2

ALTRINCHAM bounced back from their disappointing defeat at home to Alfreton last Saturday with an impressive 2-1 win at Lincoln City, who had placed their manager, former Alty player, Gary Simpson, on gardening leave on the eve of the match.

The Robins were without the injured Nicky Clee and goalkeeper Stuart Coburn, who was absent as his wife had given birth the day before the match. Nevertheless, the visitors started the better side against a nervy Lincoln and spent much of the opening twenty minutes in the opposition half.

Although Lincoln improved as the half wore on, it was Altrincham who took the lead. In the final minute of the first half Damian Reeves did well to win the ball and advance up the left wing before cutting in. He fed Simon Richman whose fine shot, from 20 yards or more, flew past Farman into the home goal.

Alty doubled their lead seven minutes after the break. Following a throw in near the left corner, James Lawrie's cross was headed in at the near post by Damian Reeves, despite the attention of a couple of defenders.

Lincoln continued to labour but the introduction of substitutes Tomlinson and Robinson improved their game. Indeed, it was Robinson who took advantage of a slip by Tom Marshall to lob the exposed Altrincham keeper, David Parton, after 66 minutes. Predictably, the goal lifted The Imps. But theywasted a couple of good chances after that allowing Altrincham to get to the final whistle with all three points deservedly intact. The win lifted them to seventeenth in the table as they look forward to Sunday's FA Cup game at Blyth Spartans.

In the league, the next match is again away from home, at AFC Telford United, a match which has been moved to November 12.

Altrincham: Parton, Densmore (c), Havern, Marshall, Leather, Richman,

Moult, S. Williams, Griffin, Lawrie, Reeves. Subs: Perry, Gillespie,

Wilkinson, Cavanagh, Samberg