Blue Square Bet North Play Off Semi-Final, 1st Leg Tuesday 30 April 2013 ALTRINCHAM showed tremendous spirit on Tuesday night to overcome the well-resourced and physically strong challenge of well-resourced Brackley Town, who had finished the season one place ahead of Altrincham in the regular season.

During the season, Town had beaten Alty 4-1 at Moss Lane in August before Alty gained revenge with a 1-0 win away from home.

Without the injured Carl Rodgers, Altrincham were under the cosh in the early stages as they struggled to get to grips with the strength and quick closing down by the visitors.

But, a crowd of 1,618 ensured a positive atmosphere, throughout.

However, after Brackley had struck the outside of the Altrincham post, it was the Robins who, quite incredibly, struck the framework of the Town goal no fewer than three times inside 10 seconds.

First of all captain, Shaun Densmore's impressive freekick came back off the cross bar, then Duncan Watmore hit the loose ball onto the post before James Lawrie completed an unwanted hat-trick of near misses with another shot against an upright.

In the second half it was Altrincham who had the better of the game, increasing their tempo and making use of their skilful attacking players, especially up the left flank. So it was against the run of play when, in the 70th minute, the visitors scored a fairly soft goal. Substitute Jefferson Louis's header drifted into the net past a wrong-footed Stuart Coburn.

But Altrincham showed a strong character as they kept going forward and they got level eight minutes later when Duncan Watmore's trickery on the left by-line saw him get the ball across goal to Simon Richman and the players' player of the year at Moss Lane stretched to head the ball home.

It seemed that time would run out for Altrincham but in the third minute of added time the ball came out to substitute Jake Moult and he lashed home a superb shot to stun the visitors.

So, Alty travel to Brackley on Saturday for the second leg with a one-goal lead but it is likely to be another severe test of character for the Robins if they are to secure a place in the play-off final on Sunday, May 12.

Should Alty win through, they will either be at home to FC Halifax Town or away at Guiseley in that game.

Supporters' transport is running to Saturday' game at Brackley; book your place now by ringing the club on 0161 928-1045.

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