SIX cars with their engines running helped guard against yet another postponement for travel-weary Altrincham but could not prevent their FA Trophy campaign stalling amid freezing temperatures at Bognor Regis on Tuesday night.

With fears growing that one frost-hit area of the pitch may be deemed unplayable, the vehicles were wheeled out in the hope the heat from their engines would counter the cold and soften the surface.

It did the trick, but Alty still bowed out at the second-round stage, following a late Bognor winner just moments after Alty had clawed their way back on level terms.

"It was an awkward surface but the same for both sides and I thought both gave it the best approach they could to dealing with it," said manager Lee Sinnott.

"It was a bit challenging, but not dangerous underfoot, so I’ve no qualms there.

"I’m very thankful for the handful of supporters who travelled down, and for a long spell I thought they would at least see us secure a replay.

"The real disappointment was not seeing it out after equalising."

Unavailable trio Adam Griffin, Luca Havern and Simon Richman should all return at Grimsby on Saturday, and there could be another new addition after the recent loan signings of Josh Ginnelly and Dylan Mottley-Henry.

"Maintaining our National League status is the main priority and I thought there were promising signs at Bognor that both Josh and Dylan can help us in that regard, given it was their first game for a few weeks," said Sinnott.

"We know we have to score more goals to do it.

"We have to create opportunities and take care of them.

"That is the challenge, and we are all focused on making it happen.

"I’m very hopeful we will be able to push through another loan signing in time for the Grimsby game.

"You don’t want to break cover until the signature is on the dotted line, but there is an agreement.

"What type of player? Put it this way, the statistic that needs improving is goals."