Alty fall to shock defeat (From Messenger Newspapers)

Alty fall to shock defeat

7:07pm Monday 6th April 2009

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LEWES 2 ALTRINCHAM 0

ALTRINCHAM continue to limp towards the finishing line this season but their future remains in their own hands despite this shock defeat.

The Sussex side had lost their previous 18 league games in the Blue Square Premier - and, initially, it looked like this would be defeat number 19.

Altrincham went close on four or five occasions in the opening stages but failed to convert any of their chances.

The nervous home side's confidence soared instantly once they got ahead. Their opening goal arrived after 25 minutes when Wheeler got behind McGregor and fired past Coburn from right of goal. Colin Little had a good chance to equalise soon afterwards but the keeper won his one-on-one battle with the Alty striker.

Slack marking from a corner led to Joe Keehan heading Lewes two ahead shortly before the interval. Alty brought on Ben Wilkinson at half-time and he came as close as anyone to getting a goal for Alty when his header at the back post forced Banks to tip the ball over the bar. But on a difficult, bobbly pitch, Altrincham could not get back into the game as they fell to their second long-distance away defeat in a week.

And with midfielder Anthony Danylyk sent off in injury time, it leaves Alty boss Graham Heathcote with only 13 fit players at his disposal.

But Graham can take some consolation from the fact that his side still has a seven-point cushion from the relegation places, with six games left to play. If they can pick up another three or point points they could well be safe from relegation.

Strong support on the terraces will help them reach their target so come along on Saturday as the Robins face promotion seekers Kidderminster Harriers at Moss Lane (3pm).

ALTRINCHAM: Coburn; Welch, McGregor, Young; Lane, Densmore, Danylyk, Doughty; Johnson, Little, O'Neill. Subs: Lawton , denham Peyton, Senior, Wilkinson

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