ALTRINCHAM may have won 16 corners to their hosts' three, and enjoyed 59 per cent of the possession, but they emerged without a point from a game watched by more than 5,000 spectators at Prenton Park.

And it was the absence of a killer instinct in front of goal which saw the Robins drop to 20th place as they recorded a third successive league game without a goal against Tranmere Rovers.

Alty might easily have taken a third-minute lead when trickery on their left wing by Ryan Crowther set up a half-chance for James Lawrie.

The former Northern Ireland international slid in at the back post but his effort went narrowly wide.

Tranmere took the lead in the 28th minute with a goal which sprang from Altrincham losing possession in their opponents' half.

Striker Michael Rankine was drifting across the pitch when the ball was taken from him and played forward by Lois Maynard.

James Norwood took advantage of a hesitant defence and reached the ball just ahead of keeper Tim Deasy, clipping it past him and into the net.

Alty dominated the second half, especially after the introduction of Nicky Clee after the hour mark.

Three efforts from Lawrie missed the target – the best a header which flew narrowly wide.

But the best chance of all arose when Lawrie played in the usually lethal Damian Reeves, midway through the half.

This time, however, the Alty marksman miss-kicked with only keeper Davies to beat.

Then, following one of a succession of corners, Scott Leather's header thumped against an upright before being cleared and, near the end, captain Luca Havern almost bundled home a leveller.

Another away match, at Chester FC on Saturday, completes Altrincham's festive fixtures as they look to convert their impressive build-up play with more clinical finishing.

Altrincham: Deasy, Sinnott, Havern, Leather, Griffin, Moult, Richman, Lawrie, Crowther (Bowerman), Rankine (Clee), Reeves. Unused subs: Heathcote, Williams, O'Keefe.