Vanarama Conference match

played on Saturday, 21 February 2015

Altrincham had beaten Rovers 2-1 in the reverse fixture in August but, since then, the Pirates have risen to second in the table as they seek an instant return to the Football League.

After a quiet start to the game, Rovers had the better of things, with most of their attacks coming up their right side. However, Altrincham competed well albeit without seriously testing keeper Mildenhall.

But both sides were making unforced errors which made the game something less than a classic.

Coburn was the busier of the two keepers. After 17 minutes Altrincham's long-serving number one, made a fine save from Blissett. Just seven minutes later, the Alty keeper made a fine one-handed stop, after Marshall had been beaten in the air,

Up frotnt, several pulls and pushes on Kyle Perry in the Bristol box went unnoticed by the referee. And Bristol's wayward shooting promised a goalless first half.

However in the 45th minute, from the second of two successive corners, defender Tom Parkes rose unhindered at the back post to head Rovers into the lead.

The second half saw Altrincham finding it more difficult to get forward than had been the case before the interval. But the visitors' hard work in midfield and defence also limited Bristol's chances of scoring a second goal.

Then, with a couple of minutes remaining, an Alty corner prompted a late onslaught from the Robins, which lasted till the end of four added minutes. Indeed, Alty thought they had equalised when Reeves headed home substitute Sinnott's cross but the Alty striker was deemed offside.

Altrincham could not complain about the result but they had shown plenty of spirit and hard work to confine the potential league champions to this slender win.

It gets no easier next Saturday as Alty entertain current league leaders Barnet at the J. Davidson Stadium (3pm).

ALTRINCHAM Coburn, Densmore, Griffin, Moult, Havern, Lawrie, Richman, Reeves, Perry (Sinnott 68), Clee, Marshall. Unused subs: Parton, Cavanagh, Leather, Wiliams.