FC HALIFAX TOWN 1 ALTRINCHAM 0

RELEGATION-threatened Altrincham threw away a potentially vital three points at The Shay when they were second best to an FC Halifax team who played from the 52nd minute with 10 men.

Defender James Bolton saw red after bringing down Damian Reeves as he got free on the edge of the penalty area.

After a first half of low quality from both sides, the dismissal sparked a slight improvement.

On a bobbly pitch and in a strong, gusty wind, neither side had been able to put together a fluent move in the opening 45 minutes.

Five minutes after Bolton's dismissal, Josh Ginnelly was set free, however he only managed a weak toe-poke at the advancing keeper, Johnson.

Ten minutes later, Ginnelly was again put clear, this time by Reeves and got the ball past the keeper, but his effort trickled on to the upright and was cleared.

Halifax immediately went up the other end where the exposed Scott Leather made a fine tackle but the ball broke loose to Hughes who slotted the ball past goalkeeper Deasy's legs to seize a 1-0 lead for the hosts.

Altrincham still had 22 minutes to retrieve something from the game but, far from looking like the team with an extra man, they failed to threaten seriously until stoppage time.

Then a fine ball from Moult gave Reeves a clear chance but he hooked the ball beyond the back post to leave Alty rueing an afternoon of missed opportunities.

ALTRINCHAM: Deasy, Heathcote (Rankine), Havern, Leather, Griffin, Moult, Richman (O'Keefe), Sinnott, Ginnelly, Lawrie (Phillips), Reeves. Unused subs: WIlliams, Davis.