NEIL Tolson insisted Altrincham were in good shape to safeguard their National League status after luck deserted them in the narrowest of 1-0 defeats at Tranmere on Monday.

Manager Lee Sinnott missed the game through illness, but there was nothing off-colour about a dominant performance that had Tranmere hanging on near the end, as Scott Leather headed against the post in the last minute.

The defeat left Alty perilously close to the bottom four, but assistant manager Tolson said: "I will be telephoning the gaffer in a moment and telling him we couldn’t possibly have asked any more of the players, except for sticking the ball in the net.

"The goal was a bad one to concede. We had enough people in enough areas to have dealt with it, and it shouldn’t have happened.

"But the fact is, we had enough chances to have been in double figures.

"When it is the 90th minute, and you are pressing for an equaliser, you’ll take a point.

"But, after the way they played, the lads are disappointed they haven’t won, let alone drawn.

"I’d say that is the best we have played all season, particularly the second half.

"There was good passing, good movement, and we caused them all sorts of problems.

"I know we need to pick up points, but we have been in this position before.

"If we keep playing our football, tidy up a bit defensively and stop leaking the odd goal here and there, we will be fine."

Alty, who are away to Chester on Saturday, stepped up the pressure after Nicky Clee went on as substitute.

"Nicky gives us an extra dimension, and I sensed we could get at them, because the crowd were turning on them and they were dropping deeper," said Tolson. "It worked, except for us having absolutely no luck whatsoever. Every scramble seemed to hit one of their players or the keeper.

"As our players left the field, about 300-400 Tranmere fans clapped them off.

"It has happened a few times lately and is a sign of respect, but it’s beginning to get a bit annoying.

"I’d rather they were booing us after we won 1-0."