DESPITE winning their opening match against Worcester last Saturday, Altrincham made three changes for this first league game at the J.

Davidson Stadium on Tuesday night.

Doughty, Rodgers and Perry replaced Leather, Moult and Wlshaw in the starting line-up, and the reshaped team secured a narrow, if not wholly convincing, win over Barrow.

The Robins made a decent start with Lawrie flashing an early shot just wide. But gradually Barrow got on to the front foot and kept Altrincham on the defensive without seriously looking like scoring, though they won four corners.

However, a late rally from Altrincham saw them take the lead as the first half went into its added time. The goal was a well directed low shot into goalkeeper McMillan's bottom left hand corner, from the edge of the penalty area.

With Nicky Clee brought on at the interval, Altrincham were much improved and went forward with more conviction. When, eight minutes into the second period, Kyle Perry impressively lobbed Tony McMillan in the visitors' goal to make it 2-0, it looked as if a comfortable second half might be on the agenda.

But, within a minute, as Perry lay injured on halfway, Barrow scored as Davies converted a loose ball, following a blocked attempt from former Alty striker Dale Johnson, who is on loan at Barrow from FC Halifax Town.

Nine minutes after this, another ex-Robin, Barrow defender Rob Williams was sent off for hauling down Damian Reeves, to give Altrincham a man advantage to add to their 2-1 kead.

But it was Barrow who had the better of the rest of the game, getting forward frequently but they were denied by the busy Altrincham defence led by Man of the Match, Luca Havern. Alty were limited to counter-attacks but managed to close out the game, despite more than five added minutes at the end of the 90.

Two wins in two games leave Altrincham fourth in the league table as they await the visit of Stockport County on Saturday (3pm).

ALTRINCHAM: Coburn; Densmore (capt), Havern, Williams, Doughty; Smikle, Rodgers, Boshell, Lawrie; Perry, Reeves. Subs: Leather, Walshaw, Moult, Richman, Clee