Altrincham 1 Solihull Moors 1 (From Messenger Newspapers)

Altrincham 1 Solihull Moors 1

10:23am Monday 26th March 2012 in Alty FC news

FOR the third game in succession, Altrincham failed to defeat lower-placed oposition in the Blue Square Bet North and so made their quest for a play-off place more difficult.

After this result on Saturday Alty lie seventh, four points off a potential promotion position.

With Nicky Clee injured, Altrincham made just one change, as Timperley-based Andy Smart came in for what was to be an impressive debut at left-back, after arriving from Trafford FC in midweek.

The visitors, who had started the season with seven straight defeats but were now in a respectable 12th place, took the lead in only the sixth minute. Slack marking allowed Francis to find the unmarked Fitzpatrick with a well flighted cross from the right wing. The Moors' number eleven guided the ball past Stuart Coburn into the net.

Altrincham went on to have the lion's share of possession and goalmouth chances but struggled to convert the openings that they created, with Lawrie and McGivern both wasting good openings.

Even the award of two second-half penalties was not enough to produce a victory, as the league's top scorer missed the first spot-kick, when his effort hit the post. That penalty had come when Scott Phelan was tripped and the second penalty arrived when Shaun Densmore was brought down after a one-two with substitute Duncan Watmore.

This time Reeves found the net from the penalty spot, his 37th goal of the season, to make it 1-1 with 17 minutes left.

The visitors' gamesmanship helped the time to tick away and with Altrincham continuing to be wasteful in front of goal, a draw was a hugely disappointing outcome for an Altrincahm side which has to play each of the division's top five clubs in its final seven games of the season.

Following a midweek trip to Corby, Alty are away at third-placed Nuneaton Town next Saturday before taking on league leaders Hyde on Easter Saturday at Moss Lane (3pm).ALTRINCHAM: Coburn; Densmore (capt), M Flynn, C Lynch, Smart; Miles, Richman (Walmsley 62), Phelan, Lawrie; Reeves, McGivern (Watmore 67).

Unused subs: Reid, Twiss, M Lynch