AFC Telford 2 Altrincham 1

ALTRINCHAM'S lamentable record against teams at the bottom of the league as for the sixth time this season they failed to overcome a team in the current bottom five places.

In a game of poor quality, Altrincham had slightly the better of the opening stages but without seriously threatening to score. With leading scorer Damian Reeves dropped to the bench, Steve Gillespie got a rare start, alongside Kyle Perry.

Alty were without the suspended Jake Moult as well as the injured Nicky Clee and substitute goalkeeper Dave Parton was also sidelined, by a back problem.

Bottom of the league Telford opened the scoring after twenty-five minutes when they found space on the Alty left and a low cross was put in at the back post by Smith. Alty have yet to win this season after conceding the first goal in any match so the omens were not good.

in a poor quality second half Altrincham brought on Reeves but, until the closing stages, scarcely looked like equalizing. Both sides were guilty of poor passing and shooting. Alty's best chance was wasted when Reeves was put clear, five minutes from time, but he could not beat the keeper.

Telford wrapped up the game just before the end of the regulation ninety minutes. Williams committed a foul on the Telford left touchline. The deep freekick was missed in the air by goalkeeper Coburn and Farrell netted comfortably at the back post.

With added time extended by a Telford injury, it was not till the sixth added minute that Kyle Perry tapped home a consolation vgoal after the keeper had failed to hold Sean Williams's shot.

The defeat left Alty in eighteenth place but having played more games than the teams below them. Next up is a home match versus Grimsby Town on Saturday (3pm).

Altrincham: Coburn, Densmore (c), Havern, Leather, Griffin, Cavanagh, Richman, Williams, Lawrie, Gillespie, Perry. Subs: Reeves, Wilkinson, Marshall, Samberg, Crowther