ALTRINCHAM showed grit and determination on Saturday to overcome a strong challenge from a Gloucester City side unbeaten in their previous four matches.

The win extended Alty's run to just one defeat in their last ten games and lifted them to fourth place in the Blue Square Bet North league table.

The game's outcome turned on a minute or so of action just before half-time. With Gloucester having recovered from a slow start to hit the cross bar and spurn two other good chances, the Robins hit them with a brace of goals inside two minutes late in the first half.

Firstly, Alty won a free kick on the edge of the box when Simon Richman was brought down. Alty captain Shaun Densmore stepped up and curled an impressive freekick into the top corner of the net to put his side ahead and record his fourth goal of the season.

Then, from a left-wing corner, Damian Reeves rose to head home his 29th goal of the season, which doubled Alty's lead.

Altrincham were without regular centre-back Danny Hall, as well as forward James Lawrie, but with Scott Leather again impressing at the back and Duncan Watmore providing lively attacking power, they comfortably held their lead till the end. Having kept only three clean sheets throughout last season's league campaign, Altrincham have done so six times already this season, five of the shut-outs coming in the last ten matches.

An injury to Damian Reeves was the only blot on the afternoon but Alty will hope he can recover for a midweek trip to Droylsden before the visit of Corby Town to Moss Lane next Saturday (3pm) .