BLYTH SPARTANS 2 ALTRINCHAM 3

ALTRINCHAM earned an FA Trophy tie at home to Macclesfield Town with a fine 3-2 win at Blyth Spartans.

Following a 2-2 draw in the original tie last Tuesday, the Robins stormed into a 3-0 lead before half time with Sean Miller the star man, though centre-back Tom Hannigan and defender Shaun Densmore also excelled in a fine team performance.

Densmore's showing was all the more impressive in that he was making his first start for more than a year after injury.

It was also the 300th game that he had started for Altrincham.

Miller put his side ahead in the sixth minute when he brilliantly lobbed keeper Adam McHugh from 35 yards.

But Simon Richman then had to go off injured with barely 15 minutes on the clock, prompting a change of formation. Nevertheless, Miller doubled the lead five minutes before half time as he drove home a low shot from the edge of the box.

And in the 44th minute, Craig Hobson made it 3-0 with a crisp, first-time shot following a cross from the right.

Blyth were sent out early for the second half but it was not until after the hour mark that they got back in the game.

Jarrett Rivers fed Luke Armstrong who netted with a low shot from the edge of the box.

Altrincham then defended solidly until the 90th minute when Blyth talisman Robbie Dale breezed past three defenders to score from right of goal.

That prompted a frantic four added minutes in which Blyth won four corners and Altrincham were indebted to a fine save from keeper Tim Deasy to preserve their win.

Next up is a trip to Stockport County on Saturday for a National League North clash.

ALTRINCHAM Deasy, Densmore, Moult, Hannigan, McWilliams, Patterson, Goodall, Richman, Lawrie, Miller, Hobson. Subs: Dawber, Cain, Taylor, Foster, Reeves.