ALTRINCHAM secured a crucial three points in a 1-0 win against a team just below them in the table but the visitors were unfortunate to leave Cheshire without, at least, a point.

The Hertfordshire side started the brighter and were to hit the woodwork twice before the interval.

For their part, Alty were still without seven of their first-choice players but, at least today, they had four of them on the bench.

And it was to be two of the substitutes, Nicky Clee and Michael Rankine, who fashioned the decisive 76th minute goal.

Rankine, who had just come on, got to the byline, right of goal, but his shot was blocked.

The ball came out to Nicky Clee who scored from the outer reaches of the box to lift Altrincham up to 17th their highest position since August.

But, before the 59th minute introduction of Clee, Altrincham had produced a lacklustre performance which had not threatened the Boreham Wood goal in any serious fashion during the first half.

In contrast, as early as the third minute, the impressive Anthony Jeffrey, a product of the Arsenal academy, had got to the byline for the visitors and, from his cut-back, Charlie MacDonald, the former Brentford striker, had hit the Alty upright.

And, just after the half-hour mark, Luke Howell had clipped the Altrincham cross bar from 25 yards.

After Altrincham had gone ahead, the visitors again pushed forward but the makeshift Alty back-line defended well.

Further forward, midfielder Simon Richman's energy helped provide some much needed impetus and he earned the man-of-the-match award.

The three points earned were all the more vital as Altrincham's next two league games are both away, at the top and second-placed clubs, Cheltenham Town and Forest Green Rovers.

Tickets for the FA Cup match at Colchester United are available from the club. See www.altrinchamfc.com for details or ring the Club on 0161 928-1045 for details. You can also book places on the supporters' coaches to the game which is on December 6 at 2pm.

ALTRINCHAM: Deasy, Sinnott, Leather, Heathcote, Griffin, Moult (capt), O'Keefe, Richman, Crowther (Rankine 75), Bowerman (Clee 59), Reeves (Lawrie 71). Unused subs: Havern, Williams

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