Altrincham 1 Macclesfield Town 0

IN their first competitive clash with their Cheshire neighbours for 17 years, Altrincham's players responded to the justifiably harsh words of their manager, Lee Sinnott, to record a last-minute win through a wonderful goal on Tuesday night.

The game had just gone into the 90th minute when an astute throw-in from captain, Shaun Densmore, saw James Lawrie turn and hit a dipping volley into the far corner of the net from wide on the Alty right.

After three heavy defeats and the concession of 13 goals, Altrincham, with Luca Havern restored to the defence, recorded a first-half clean sheet.

Havern, Jake Moult and Simon Richman had all returned to the side with Peter Cavanagh and Tom Marshall both suspended and Kyle Perry dropping to the bench, where Ryan Crowther returned after illness.

The first half had been a predictably competitive affair before a crowd of more than 1,800.

Altrincham had failed to convert two good chances as Reeves spooned a good opening over the bar and, from a freekick awarded for the visitors' keeper handling a back pass, Nicky Clee had fired high and wide from eight yards out.

Indeed, as the game wore on, both sides had failed to convert chances. In the second half, Alty's James Lawrie impressed with several surging runs up the middle of the pitch but his goal came in spectacular fashion. The game seemed to be drifting to a goalless draw when Altrincham won two successive throws, about 30 yards out on the right wing.

Lawrie got into space and Densmore picked him out with his throw.

Alty's Northern Irishman swivelled and launched an unstoppable volley, which looped over keeper Taylor into the far corner of the Macclesfield net.

There were predictably joyous celebrations from the Alty fans for this win against those longstanding rivals, as the home side moved up to 21st in the table.

Altrincham's next games are away; at FC Halifax Town on Saturday and Grimsby Town on Tuesday night.

ALTRINCHAM Stuart Coburn, Shaun Densmore (capt), Scott Leather, Gianluca Havern, Adam Griffin, James Lawrie, Jake Moult, Sean Williams, Simon Richman, Nicky Clee,

Damian Reeves. Subs: Greg Wilkinson, Mike Williams, Kyle Perry, Dave Parton, Ryan Crowther.