ALTRINCHAM came through a difficult afternoon on home soil to beat Evo-Stik Premier's bottom-club Sutton Coldfield Town 2-1 last Saturday.

After a 4-0 win in the reverse fixture, Alty were expected by many to brush aside the Midlanders.

But the Royals have changed their personnel and improved their form in recent weeks and they were to give Alty a difficult afternoon.

The home side made a poor start to the game and Sutton Coldfield striker Karl Hawley should have done better than hit a shot straight at Alty keeper Tony Thompson inside 40 seconds.

So, when Town did take the lead in the 13th minute, it was not too much of a surprise.

Altrincham again allowed Hawley too much space and this time he fed the overlapping Tyler Lyttle.

The visitors' right-back then drove a fine, low shot past keeper Thompson.

Alty's performance was improving and they levelled eight minutes later through a superb 25-yard strike by midfielder Max Harrop.

Although the hosts enjoyed the better of the remainder of the game, the Royals did not allow them any really clear chances before Josh Hancock won his side an 80th-minute penalty.

Substitute John Johnston calmly converted the spot-kick before his side saw out the remaining time plus six added minutes.

Sutton Coldfield suffered a further blow in the closing stages when substitute Dominic Dell was shown a red card for punching Harrop, just four minutes after he had joined the game.

ALTRINCHAM: Thompson, Densmore, Hampson, Jones, Harrison, Moult, Peers, Harrop, Hulme, Poole, Hancock. Subs: Johnston, Richman, White, Walsh, Amis.