ALTRINCHAM moved into the top five of the Evo-Stik Premier Division on Tuesday night, inflicting a first home defeat of the season on Hednesford Town.

The Robins swept aside the Staffordshire side with consummate ease in a 3-0 victory that would have been even more comprehensive, had it not been for the heroics of the Pitmen’s goalkeeper, James Wren, who made a number of outstanding saves to keep the score line respectable from the hosts' perspective.

Josh Hancock set Phil Parkinson’s side on its way, just after the half-hour mark, with a sweet drive from just outside the area.

Then Jordan Hulme doubled the lead before the interval, acrobatically finishing off one of several fine moves put together in a very impressive first-half performance.

Hulme completed the scoring in the second half and there was plenty for manager Parkinson to be enthusiastic about in his post-match comments.

He said: “We made our qualities tell at key moments with some really well taken goals, but the most pleasing thing is another clean sheet.

"Work rate and intensity was the key and it was an impressive all-round team display, but the performance of Joel Bembo-Leta really caught the eye and Jake Moult, who I think is a bit of an unsung hero, was a colossus."

Following on from Saturday’s hard-earned 1-0 home win against Grantham Town, Altrincham have now won seven of their last eight league games and are within five points of the leaders, Shaw Lane, with a game in hand.

On Saturday, Parkinson takes his team to Tameside to take on Stalybridge Celtic for a re-arranged league game between two clubs that were relegated from the National League North in April.

Steve Burr’s men have had a surprisingly poor start to the campaign, but secured a vital 1-0 victory at home to Halesowen Town on Tuesday to swap places with their Midlands opponents and move off the foot of the table.