ALTRINCHAM looked set to end any lingering fears of relegation by felling Forest Green when star striker Colin Little put them two-up in 21 minutes.

They still led 2-0 at the break, but the visiting Gloucestershire strugglers then came roaring back with goals by Paul Lloyd and David Brown putting them back on terms before Alty's James Smith was sent off.

Forest Green seized on the advantage that gave them to sink Alty with three further goals, leaving Graham Heathcote's men to chew over their fifth defeat in six games as they continue to look ever more nervously over their shoulders at the teams below them.

Among those are next-to-bottom Northwich Victoria, who are now 17 points adrift of safety and almost certainly heading for relegation with just nine games left after suffering a fourth successive loss under caretaker-manager Andy Preece in going down 3-2 to Torquay at the Marston's Arena. Doomed Vics twice led through Kyle Perry and Jonny Allan but were eventually overpowered by the south coast promotion hopefuls.

Meanwhile, the region's three Blue Square North clubs couldn't manage so much as a goal between them.

Stalybridge stay fifth despite losing 1-0 to leaders Gateshead, enabling Droylsden to marginally improve their chances of edging their Bower Fold neighbours out of the play-off places by holding title-chasing Southport to a goalless draw at the Butcher's Arms.

But the relegation trapdoor opened ever wider beneath Hyde United as they lost 1-0 to visiting King's Lynn.

Simon Garner handed FC United a potential UniBond premier promotion lifeline with his stoppage-time equaliser securing them a 2-2 draw at Hednesford. Ashton United beat Whitby 2-1.

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