FOR the first time since January 2015, Altrincham recorded a third successive league victory on Monday with a 2-0 triumph at Witton Albion.

The Evo-Stik Premier win was secured despite the Robins starting the game without their two most used full-backs of the season, and they went on to lose three more players in the game to injuries.

Nevertheless, they kept a clean sheet against opponents who had not failed to score previously this season.

Manager Phil Parkinson also shuffled his starting XI in a match that took place only 48 hours after a 4-2 victory over Coalville on Saturday. Shaun Densmore, John Johnston and Sam Sheridan came in for Lewis Short, Laurence Taylor and Tom Peers.

In an impressive first half, Altrincham deservedly took a 15th-minute lead. Jordan Hulme collected a long ball forward and played it from the left to James Poole and the former Hartlepool United man hit a superb rising shot past keeper Calvin Hare from just outside the box.

Alty continued to have the better of the game but, after 34 minutes, lost right-back Simon Richman to a crude challenge, which went unpunished by referee Ben Atkinson.

However, justice was done three minutes later when Alty's former Witton forward Josh Hancock scored a fine goal from outside the box – his third of the campaign.

In the second half Alty were also to lose left-back Densmore and striker Hulme to injuries.

Those losses, combined with an improved performance from the hosts, made the second half a more even affair. But goalkeeper Anthony Thompson was only tested a couple of times as James Jones and Ben Harrison marshalled a back line which finished with substitute midfielder Taylor at right-back and centre-back Tom Hannigan at left-back.

The win lifted Altrincham into the top half of the table, only three points behind the leaders.

Two days earlier, Alty had been impressive against Coalville.

On their first ever visit to Altrincham, Leicestershire side Coalville belied their starting position at the foot of the table to contribute greatly to an entertaining 90 minutes.

And, having fought their way back from two goals adrift to level the scores, the visitors had two great chances to level again before a stoppage-time goal finished them off.

It had looked as if it would be a comfortable afternoon for Alty when they cruised into a two-goal lead inside 13 minutes. Poole netted an excellent half-volley in the 10th minute, following a corner, before Hancock scored a second, when a free kick came to him.

But soon after the half-hour mark, the visitors made it 2-1 when Alty allowed Steve Towers time to strike a low shot which beat keeper Thompson from 20 yards.

Alty were again guilty of not closing down Coalville when Blair Anderson equalised.

The left-winger was allowed to take aim and fire a fine shot into the top corner eight minutes into the second half.

Substitute Johnston set up defender Jones to make it 3-2 to the Robins after 73 minutes but the visitors’ Daniel Creaney twice came close to levelling before Alty settled the outcome with another goal, in the fourth minute of added time.

Poole made a fine run to the right of the box before leaving the industrious Hulme with a tap-in.