Phil Parkinson sounded a rallying cry for Saturday’s crucial FA Trophy tie at York City after Altrincham slipped to a second successive National League defeat at Glanford Park on Tuesday.

The Robins suffered a 4-0 reverse at Wealdstone on Saturday and only fared marginally better three days later when they were punished for not making more of their first-half supremacy as struggling Scunthorpe United secured a 2-0 win with two second-half goals.

Attention now turns to the LNER Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon, where a semi-final place is at stake against a York side who crept closer to Alty in the table after an emphatic 3-0 win at Bromley on Tuesday night.

Alty boss Parkinson spelled out the importance of bouncing back from a double disappointment in the league, as he said: “It’s massive for us on Saturday, an absolutely huge game.

“Big players turn up when it’s a big occasion, and we need that to happen for us.

“Wealdstone was a massive disappointment, and Tuesday was night and day in terms of the first half compared to the second half.

“The first half was as comfortable as we’ve been in an away game in a long, long time, but then a mistake cost us a goal and gave them all the momentum they needed.

“Too many are having a dip in form and confidence at the wrong time, and we’ve got to put that right sooner rather than later. We need to show more resilience.

“There are a few things we need to look at between now and Saturday to give ourselves the best chance of progressing in a competition we are desperate to do well in.

“I believe in this group and I know we will turn our form around.

“You only get one shot at it in cup competitions, so we can’t be feeling sorry for ourselves.

“We’ve got to go there with confidence and belief in what we are doing - if we turn up on the day, we will give ourselves a great chance.”