PHIL Parkinson made no apologies for spoiling the BBC’s script after Altrincham became the first team to reach the final qualifying round of the FA Cup at The Grove on Saturday.

Famed cup fighters Alty have made national media headlines as renowned giantkillers down the years, but the boot was on the other foot as they adopted the role of favourites against a Halesowen Town side from two divisions below them.

Sensing in-form Halesowen could spring a surprise, the BBC chose it for live coverage, bringing the kick off forward to 12.30pm, but Alty were having none of it, as they eased through with second-half goals from substitute Tom Peers and winger John Johnston in a thoroughly professional 2-0 win.

"Halesowen are a team on the up, and the reason the cameras were here was because they thought there might be an upset," said Alty boss Parkinson, whose side face Southport away in the fourth-qualifying round.

"But the players acquitted themselves brilliantly to make sure that didn’t happen.

"Our form on the road hasn’t been great, so to send our fans away with smiles on their faces and put some money in the coffers as well is really pleasing.

"It was a really good cup tie, but I felt we controlled the tempo and created enough good opportunities to have won more comfortably.

"If you think of Josh Hancock and Simon Richman both hitting the keeper from inside the six-yard box and a couple of chances Tom Peers had, you would have to say our opportunities were more clear-cut than theirs.

"It was a really bright, intelligent piece of play for the opener by Tom.

"The keeper had fumbled the ball twice just before, and Tom read that and reacted superbly when it happened again.

"JJ did well for his goal, and that sealed what was a great result, because, with the cameras here, we were on a hiding to nothing."

Alty return to National League North action at Guiseley on Saturday after a four-week break, due to cup commitments and a weather-enforced postponement.