Boston United 1 Altrincham 3 (From Messenger Newspapers)

Boston United 1 Altrincham 3

12:25pm Monday 22nd October 2012 in Sport

ALTRINCHAM qualified for the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time in four seasons with this ultimately comfortable win in Lincolnshire.

It had not looked that way when Boston took a 12th minute lead.

Striker Mark Jones got the benefit of a rebound off Luca Havern which set him free to drive his shot past Stuart Coburn from left of centre, with just 12 minutes on the clock.

But, only a minute later, Ben Fairclough was shown a straight red card when he jumped in two-footed and late on Alty midfielder Jake Moult.

With a one-man advantage, Altrincham stretched the opposition with plenty of possession football but they lacked the necessary incision to get an equaliser until well after half-time.

Finally, the reward for Altrincham's patience arrived in the 58th minute when James Lawrie's interplay with Nicky Clee ended with the Irishman slotting home the equaliser.

Soon after this, Boston's indiscipline cost them another red card when Spencer Weir-Daley laid out Jake Moult with a blow to the face.

And, after being shown the red card, the Boston man went for Alty captain Shaun Densmore before a team mate ushered him off the pitch for an early bath.

Alty continued to play a patient game and this tactic paid off after 70 minutes when Jake Moult picked up the ball in the centre of the pitch before advancing and beating keeper Haystead with a well struck shot from 25 yards.

Boston used all of their substitute options and briefly their nine men threatened to get level through Chris Sanders's effort. But Alty finished off a professional performance in the 89th minute when the impressive Nicky Clee netted Altrincham's third with a rising shot.

In Sunday's draw for round one, Altrincham were drawn away from home for the fourth successive time and they now face League Two club Burton Albion on the weekend of November 3. The Brewers are opponents whom Altrincham have met several times previously in both the Northern Premier League and the national division of the Football Conference.

ALTRINCHAM: Coburn, Densmore (capt), Havern, Hall, Doughty, Watmore, Moult, Rodgers, Clee, Lawrie, Reeves. Subs: Greygoose, Mitchley, Brooke, Lacey, Leather, Richman