Words John Edwards | Pictures Sean Walsh

Wealdstone 1 Altrincham 1

A close-range finish by James Gale did the trick for Altrincham as the Robins deservedly ended a five-match losing run at a wind-buffeted Grosvenor Vale this afternoon.

Alty were trailing to an early Wealdstone goal but refused to be blown off course as Gale finished off a move involving Tom Crawford and Jimmy Knowles to haul his side level in first half added time.

Clear-cut chances were unsurprisingly few and far between, given the conditions, but the Robins generally had the better of the exchanges and will have headed home feeling not only relieved at having something to show for their efforts but that it could have been three points rather than one.

Alty had the strong wind behind them in the first half, but it didn't exactly count in their favour over the goal that gave Wealdstone a fifth-minute lead.

When a free-kick came in from the left, Connor McAvoy met it with a header that would have sailed yards over at the other end but rapidly lost pace at the one Alty were occupying, as it looped over Luke Hutchinson's outstretched arms and dropped into the net.

It was the worst possible start for the Robins, as they sought to put an end to their losing streak and get back to winning ways.

Wealdstone spurned a glorious chance to double their advantage in the 14th minute, when Micah Obiero latched on to a flick on in front of goal, only to steer his shot wide.

Alty gradually worked their way into the game and went close twice in quick succession with half-an-hour gone.

Crawford floated a chip towards the far post in the 30th minute, where Lewis Banks connected with a first-time half-volley that flew narrowly wide from the tightest of angles.

Seconds later, Knowles rolled a pass across the edge of the area to Tylor Golden on his right, and the full-back's shot looked goalbound until hitting defender Junior Tiensia and bouncing to safety.

The equaliser Alty's possession suggested could be on the cards duly materialised in the second minute of added time when Gale netted the goal his perseverance and selfless frontrunning deserved.

Crawford worked enough space to thread a ball through to Knowles, and when keeper Dante Baptiste failed to hold the striker's low shot, Gale was on hand to snaffle up the rebound and prod it home.

Free-flowing football was proving near-enough impossible in such blustery conditions, but, with Jack Hinchy looking assured on his debut in a deep-lying midfield role, the Robins were well in it at the halfway point.

The first attacking threat of the second half was mounted by Alty in the 54th minute, when Gale managed to spin on to a pass from Sam Reed and fire a low shot that was gathered by Baptiste.

When Baptiste punched under extreme pressure in the 69th minute, Isaac Marriott seized on the loose ball and drilled a shot the Wealdstone keeper was relieved to hang on to, as it flew towards him through a ruck of players.

Billy Waters was thrown on for a debut in the 74th minute, and he wasted no time announcing himself to the Wealdstone defence. Fastening on to a pass from Crawford. he accelerated past a defender and cut in from the left, only to be hauled down from behind as he was shaping to shoot from a narrow angle.

The on-loan striker was adamant he should have had a penalty and was so incensed by the referee's refusal to award one, he talked his way into a yellow card.

As timed ticked away, Knowles dragged a shot wide of the far post in the 84th minute. Both sides were struggling with the difficult conditions, but the Robins were making a better fist than their opponents of trying to master them.

Wealdstone Baptiste; Georgiou, Woodman, Boldewijn (c), Kadji (Mussa, 66'), Olomola (Adarkwa, 60'), Obiero, Chinedu (Hassan, 87'), Tshikuna (Young-Coombes, 85'), McAvoy (Hutchinson, 60'), Tiensia. Subs not used: Cook, Covolan.

Altrincham Hutchinson; Banks (Barnes, 72'), Reed, Baines (c), Marriott, Gale (Waters, 72'), Knowles, Hinchy (Osborne, 72'), Crawford, Golden, Sassi. Subs not used: Crankshaw, Ward, Fallon, Kirk.

HT 1-1

Goals McAvoy 5' | Gale 45'+2

Yellows Obiero 76' | Knowles 53', Waters 74'

Reds None | None

Referee Matthew Scholes

Assistants Amarjit Sarao & Robert Evans

Fourth official Chay Hathway

Attendance 1,217 (58 away)

Next Up

The 2025/26 edition of the Emirates FA Cup begins at The J.Davidson Stadium next Saturday (3pm) - Harborough Town the visitors in Fourth Round Qualifying.

Get your reduced price tickets here or reduced price hospitality here.