EASTLEIGH 2 ALTRINCHAM 0

WITH just two more fixtures remaining this season after this defeat in Hampshire, Altrincham are reliant on other teams losing as well as winning at least one match themselves to survive in the national level of non-League football.

Already without four long-term injured players, midfielder Simon Richman was added to the list for this game, while on-loan defender Marcus Holness was suspended.

However, Jake Moult had recovered from an ankle injury to play.

But the injury jinx continued as goalkeeper Tim Deasy went down, off the ball, in the opening minutes and spent the rest of the game hobbling.

Right-back Sam Heathcote had to take all the goal-kicks for the stricken keeper.

However, Eastleigh failed to force a single save from Deasy in the first half.

They did go close when Yemi Odubade volleyed over the bar from six yards and Jamie Turley and Odubade wasted another chance as they both went for the same aerial ball.

The score remained goalless at half time and Altrincham had given a decent account of themselves.

But, as the hour-mark approached, the home side began to mount some sustained pressure.

They achieved the breakthrough on 59 minutes when a cross from the right was converted by a rising shot from American midfielder, Jai Reason.

More home possession resulted in a second goal, 11 minutes later when Luke Coulson fired home a strong shot from 25 yards to settle the outcome.

Altrincham did create some late half-chances, the best being when Josh Ginnelly's run got Damian Reeves in, one on one, against Ross Flitney but the Eastleigh keeper blocked the Alty striker's effort.

A win at home to already relegated Welling United on Saturday might extend Alty's hopes of survival at this level into the last game of the season, which is away at play-off hunters Braintree Town on April 30.

ALTRINCHAM: Deasy, Heathcote (Savill), Leather, Havern, Griffin, Moult, Lawrie, Ginnelly, Crowther (Sinnott), Reeves, Rankine. Unused subs: Williams, Davis, O'Keefe