ALTRINCHAM manager Lee Sinnott was encouraged by Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw at Lincoln following the disastrous 4-0 home defeat to Braintree Town at the weekend.

Ryan Crowther, a rare spark in a shocking display at Moss Lane on Saturday, took full advantage of his starting berth by scoring a first half equaliser to secure Alty’s first away point since March 28th.

“We know how difficult it is to come here and take something back so we’re pleased with that,” Sinnott said after the trip to Sincil Bank.

“After Saturday, we showed a lot of things that were missing. We rode our luck at times, but for the majority of it, I thought as a team we stuck to the task very well.”

The hosts took the lead when the impressive Matt Rhead knocked down a long diagonal ball into the path of Alan Power, who had the simple job of beating the badly exposed Tim Deasy from eight yards.

But the Robins responded well as Crowther latched onto a James Lawrie corner, at the far post, to fire into the roof of the net less than 10 minutes later.

Jake Moult was substituted before half-time after being booked for a challenge that ended Matt Sparrow’s night & then being spoken to by the referee for a further misdemeanour.

In the second half, Lincoln were denied as they chased a winner after Terry Hawkridge’s well struck effort cannoned against the post, soon followed by a tremendous clearance off the line by Gianluca Havern to somehow prevent Rhead’s header from going in.

The strong defensive resistance was in stark contrast to the disappointing display against Braintree.

Michael Cheek’s eighth minute opener was followed by a Kenny Davis penalty on the stroke of half time, before speculative strikes in second half added time by substitutes Anthony Edgar and Taylor Miles completed the misery.

“For me it’s a first step from Saturday,” Sinnott said, “Instead of Saturday where we ran for the hills, we dug ourselves in. I’m going to remember Saturday for a long time.

“Our minds were right tonight collectively and we took a good point from a team that’s going to be very difficult to beat.”