ALTRINCHAM 3 MATLOCK TOWN 1

ALTRINCHAM advanced to the FA Cup First Round with their third successive win under new manager Jim Harvey.

Matlock Town, from one level below Altrincham in the non-league pyramid, arrived at the J.Davidson Stadium after a recent good run of form.

And the confidence engendered by that run helped them to make the early running against an initially lacklustre Altrincham.

After twice failing to get through the Robins' defence, the Gladiators took the lead in the 32nd minute.

A ball from the left found Niall McManus unmarked and he got the better of Alty's loanee left-back, Josh Doherty, before his low shot beat Tim Deasy.

A piece of individual brilliance from Alty striker Damian Reeves got them level five minutes later.

He impressively controlled a through ball from Jake Moult before turning smartly and beating goalkeeper Phil Barnes with a firm shot.

The game's outcome was settled by two Sean Miller goals in a five-minute spell early in the second half.

For the first of his brace, he converted a low cross from the right from James Lawrie less than 90 seconds into the second half.

Then he bagged Alty's third goal on 52 minutes when he advanced from a central position more than 20 yards out to fire home.

With 10 minutes remaining and Altrincham seemingly comfortable with their two-goal cushion, they made life difficult for themselves.

First, the already-booked Moult conceded a penalty, however, he escaped without further punishment either from the referee or Town's striker Marc Newsham, who hit the spot-kick well over the bar.

Just a couple of minutes later, substitute defender Tom Hannigan, regaining match fitness after a long injury lay-off, made a reckless challenge near halfway on Matlock's Michael Williams and was shown a red card.

The one-man advantage allowed Matlock to apply some late pressure but striker Marcus Dinanga was off target with their two best chances.

Altrincham are back on National League North duty at home to AFC Telford United on Saturday (3pm).

ALTRINCHAM: Deasy, Patterson, Cyrus, Goodall, Doherty, Moult, Richman, Wilkinson, Lawrie, Miller, Reeves. Subs: Dawber, Hobson, Marsh, Heathcote, Hannigan, Cain, Joyce.