Josh Hancock was credited with scoring "a classic Altrincham goal" as the Robins registered their first home win of the season in dramatic style at The J.Davidson Stadium on Tuesday night.
Trailing to an early Chesterfield goal, Alty rallied strongly to lead 2-1 midway through the second half, only to be pegged back by an equaliser 30 seconds later.
Undeterred, they kept pressing for a winner and were rewarded in the 89th minute when Hancock applied the finishing touch to a slick right-flank move for his second goal of the night.
It gave Alty their first home win at the fourth attempt and marked a welcome return to scoring form for Hancock and the team, whose first goal came from striker Fisayo Adarabioyo.
"I thought the winner was reflective of what we’ve done so many times over the past three seasons, particularly at the Golf Road end," said assistant-manager Neil Sorvel. "We’ve scored so many
coming in from that right-hand side, sliding the ball through to an oncoming runner who breaks the line with a run and pass and then the finish across the keeper.
"We’ve seen it numerous times from Hanks. That’s us. That’s like a classic Altrincham goal for me.
"It’s great to get the points, especially after the week we’ve had, with three defeats.
"It was imperative we got something out of this game, so to snatch it right at the end like that was brilliant.
"I thought Fisayo caused their centre-back some problems, and he showed real composure for the equaliser in the first half, tucking it away nicely. I was pleased for him.
"The most disappointing thing was conceding about 20 seconds after we’d gone in front, but we got over the line, and that was the main thing.
"We started to click a bit more as an attacking threat.
"It was like basketball at times in the second half, real end-to-end stuff, but I thought we looked more dangerous going forward."
On-loan midfielder Alistair Smith made the most of his first start, building on an impressive showing as a second-half substitute in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat by Aldershot.
"He’s got good energy about him, and he looks neat and tidy on the ball,’ added Sorvel. "He set up the goal for Tom Peers on Saturday, and he again showed good quality and composure."
Alty next head to Boreham Wood on Saturday.
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