ALTRINCHAM 0 SALFORD CITY 2

MANAGER Jim Harvey shuffled his pack again as he looked for a winning combination but, once more, the outcome was defeat for a side which has won just once in 17 National League North outings this season.

Named on the bench were five of Harvey's six senior players, with James Lawrie the only player from last season to survive the cull.

It meant Alty started with three more league debutants, taking the number of players used this season to 37.

With Salford looking the better side, one of Alty's new men, midfielder Simon Lenighan, was substituted after only 34 minutes.

As half time approached, Altrincham were getting more into the game.

However, they conceded in the final minute of the first 45 as Mike Phenix got free to the right of goal to beat keeper Andrew Dawber, who had earlier kept Alty in the game with two fine saves.

Hopes of a comeback were dashed just eight minutes into the second half when Richie Allen's low shot from 20 yards found the net.

In the closing stages Altrincham belatedly got forward with some consistency.

Sean Miller cut in and hit the outside of the post but that was as close as Altrincham got to taking anything from the game.

The Robins are now nine points from safety and no nearer to a settled side as the halfway point of the season approaches.

Next up is a trip to Alfreton Town on Saturday.

ALTRINCHAM: Dawber, Patterson, Cyrus, Thomas, Morrison-Derbyshire, McWilliams, Lenighan, Wilkinson, Obeng, Lawrie, Miller. Subs: Reeves, Moult, Goodall, Richman, Deasy.