Words John Edwards | Pictures Jonathan Moore

Forest Green Rovers 1 Altrincham 1

A performance full of finesse in the first half and fight in the second earned Altrincham a highly-creditable point at a rain-lashed New Lawn Stadium this evening.

Forest Green Rovers had designs on reinforcing their push for promotion to the Football League, but a spirited Alty side had other ideas as they forced the pace in the opening 45 minutes and deservedly went in front through Olly Crankshaw.

Robbie Savage's side equalised in the 58th minute and threw everything at adding to it in their quest for promotion points, but the Robins resisted resolutely with a combination of goalline clearances, last-ditch tackles and blocks and the usual outstanding levels of agility from Luke Hutchinson.

Alty could hardly have wished for a better start, as they played all the positive, progressive football in the opening 10 minutes and deservedly went ahead in the 11th.

Most of the Robins' early threat was posed on the left flank, with Crankshaw particularly prominent, but it was a smart move down the right that did the trick and left the promotion-chasing home side stunned.

It was started by Matty Kosylo with a pinpoint pass from deep into space that allowed Jimmy Knowles to look up and clip the ball into the path of Crankshaw, ideally placed 10 yards or so from goal.

Typical of a player in such fine goalscoring form of late, Crankshaw trusted his technique to do the rest as he swung his right boot at the ball and clipped a perfectly-timed shot that had too much on it for keeper Harry Isted as it flashed past him into the net.

Hutchinson had to be at his best to safeguard the lead in the 23rd minute when a firm low drive by Kyle McAllister was flying towards the bottom corner until Alty's keeper went full length to turn it behind with an outstretched hand.

A response from the high-flying home team was only to be expected, but they were pegged back again by Alty and almost conceded a second goal in the 26th minute.

Knowles slid a clever pass into the area for Crankshaw to latch on to, and when the in-form winger took a step forward and set himself up for a low angled shot, Isted had to react swiftly to block it with his shins.

It had been an impressive first-half performance by the Robins, and it nearly produced a second goal in the 40th minute.

Crankshaw was again an integral figure, fastening on to a superb ball down the left by Tom Crawford and motoring into space before crossing low towards the near post, where the onrushing Isaac Marriott went agonisingly close to turning it in.

It was an indication of the problems Alty caused in the first half that the teams left the field at half-time to the sound of boos from the home crowd and reappeared to the sight of Forest Green making no fewer than three changes to their line-up.

The alterations had the desired effect, with Alty's goal finally coming under pressure at the start of the second half but the Robins defence standing firm under an aerial bombardment.

As the hour-mark approached, however, the Robins' resistance was pierced as Rovers made it 1-1 in the 58th minute.

Jayden Clarke had been denied by an airborne Hutchinson just seconds earlier when he took possession again on the edge of the area and switched the ball from right foot to left before unleashing a low shot that gave the Alty keeper no chance.

Alty were increasingly coming under the cosh, and when Jili Buyabu powered into the box from the left and let fly in the 74th minute, Hutchinson did well to palm it over the bar.

The pressure intensified in the closing minutes but so did Alty's determination not to surrender a precious point, and they duly headed back up the M5 and M6 with a reward that their effort and endeavour, not to mention enterprise in the first half, thoroughly merited.

Forest Green Isted; Kengni (Clarke, 46'), Mendy (c), McAllister, Haughton (Mitchell, 46'), Knowles (Pemberton, 53'), Morrison (Bunker, 46'), Buyabu, Nwoko, Babalola, Kanu. Subs not used: Pagel, Moore, Kircough.

Altrincham Hutchinson; Cooper, Crankshaw (Forde, 90'+4), Marriott, Khan, Knowles (Grant, 77'), Kosylo, Crawford (c), Humbles (Reddin, 77'), Jones (Golden, 77'), Sassi. Subs not used: Weaver, Fallon, Kirk.

HT 0-1

Goals Clarke 58' | Crankshaw 11'

Yellows Mendy 90'+5 | Cooper 85'

Reds None | None

Referee Matthew Scholes

Assistants Bailey Walker & David Pilling

Fourth Official Joel Woolmer

Attendance 1,251

Next Up

We return home to take on Boreham Wood in the Enterprise National League - Saturday at 3pm.

Get your tickets online here or book your seat in our popular hospitality lounge here.