Blue square premier

Northwich Victoria.......0
Altrincham...................1

ALTRINCHAM picked up their fourth away win of the season in this Boxing Day lunchtime clash at the Marston’s Arena.

Though they were the better side throughout, the Robins had to rely on a single goal, after 73 minutes, from defender Greg Young to secure the points.

It could have been much easier had Colin Little converted a first-half penalty, won when Chris Senior was brought down by Ryan Brown.

But Alty’s leading scorer hit his shot too near to keeper Scott Tynan, who pushed the spot-kick away for a corner.

With Vics looking like the bottom of the table side that they are, Altrincham struggled to make their superiority tell and, when they did create openings, they seemed reluctant to take them, despite the labours of striker Dale Johnson.

At the other end, apart from a fierce first-half shot from Darryn Stamp, Alty keeper Stuart Coburn had little to do.

Altrincham finally made the breakthrough with a pre-rehearsed freekick routine which saw Matt Doughty, a candidate for man of the match, cleverly fed Chris Senior.

The striker sent the ball across the goal from the right, where Young poked it home from close range.

With captain Mark McGregor leading by example at the back, Alty also secured the their first away-match clean sheet, all the more commendable after his side had shipped 17 goals in their previous five matches.

The win lifted Altrincham back into the top half of the table, having now tasted victory in nine league games this season, as many as they won in the whole of the last campaign.

ALTRINCHAM: Coburn, Smith, McGregor, Young, Densmore, Danylyk, Peyton, Doughty, Senior, Little, Johnson. Subs: Ralph (goalkeeper), Lane, Meechan, Elam, O’Neill.

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