Report by John Edwards

Photo courtesy of Stockport County

Phil Parkinson has made a significant breakthrough in his quest to add firepower to Altrincham's attack by landing proven finisher Connor Jennings from Stockport County on loan.

The Alty boss vowed to address the pressing problem of missed chances proving costly and was as good as his word as he welcomed the vastly experienced striker to The J.Davidson Stadium for the next month.

Jennings is the second loan signing from Stockport in less than a week, following the capture of winger Elliot Newby on a two-month agreement last Thursday, and both players (pending NL/FA ratification for Connor) will go straight into the Robins' squad for tomorrow's Vanarama National League fixture at home to Barnet (7.45pm).

Six-feet tall and with an enviable scoring record over a number of years, Manchester-born Jennings' arrival is just what Alty needed, as they seek to pep up their goals output.

He took the eye at an early age, forcing his way into Stalybridge Celtic's starting line-up and amassing 51 goals in 123 appearances for the Bower Fold club, an impact that earned him a move to Scunthorpe United, then of League One, for an undisclosed fee.

He was on the scoresheet for first time for Scunthorpe against Derby County in the League Cup, and after loan spells with Stockport, Macclesfield and Grimsby Town, he signed for Wrexham and then Tranmere Rovers before moving to Edgeley Park on a permanent basis in July, 2020.

Remarkably, he appeared in three Wembley play-off finals in successive seasons, starting in May, 2017 when, after Tranmere went behind in only the 11th minute, he levelled matters with a spectacular 25-yard drive, only for Forest Green Rovers to go on and seal promotion to the Football League with a 3-1 win.

Twelve months later, Tranmere were back at Wembley, and there were to be no slip-ups this time, as Jennings supplied a pinpoint cross for James Norwood  to head a late winner and secure a League Two place for Rovers.

Finally, exactly a year after that, a tense League Two play-off final against Newport County was on a knife-edge until Jennings settled it with a 119th-minute header that gave his side a 1-0 win in front of 25,000 fans.

Great stuff, Connor, and on behalf of everyone at Alty, a warm welcome to The J.Davidson Stadium and all the best for a happy and rewarding stay.