Words John Edwards | Pictures Jonathan Moore

Altrincham 3 Barnet 1

Tom Crawford took the scoring honours with two superbly-executed goals as Altrincham overturned half-time arrears to march into the last 16 of the Isuzu FA Trophy at a freezing J.Davidson Stadium this afternoon.

In sub-zero temperatures, it was Barnet who warmed to their task first, building attacks with a slick assurance and deservedly going ahead in the 16th minute through Rhys Browne.

But, with a resolve that has served them so well at home this season, the Robins came roaring back in the second half to keep their Wembley dream alive.

Crawford has been one of the successes of the campaign so far, after signing from Hartlepool United in the summer, and he is going from strength to strength, now that he is adding goals to his many other attributes.

He was on hand to sweep home an Alex Newby cross in the 51st minute, and he was on target again 18 minutes later with an immaculately-measured lob over Barnet's stranded keeper.

After working so hard to get their noses in front, the Robins were in no mood to relinquish their advantage, and their passage through to Monday afternoon's fifth-round draw was assured late on when substitute Joe Nuttall scored with his first touch of the ball.

After an opening quarter-of-an-hour of patient probing by Barnet but little by way of clear-cut chances, the visitors took the lead with a goal that was deserved but that had a slice of good fortune about it in the build-up.

Elliot Osborne appeared to be fouled near the halfway line, but the referee waved play on, allowing a move to develop that ended with a cross into the area from the right flank.

Alty failed to deal with it, and when the ball broke loose on the edge of the six-yard box, Browne reacted quickest to poke it over the line.

There was almost a second Barnet goal two minutes later when Nicke Kabamba broke clear and would surely have scored but for Charlie Olson saving the day with a last-ditch challenge at the expense of a corner.

Alty were working their way back into the tie, though, and went close to an equaliser in the 29th minute, following a reminder of the form that has made Regan Linney such a menace to opposing defences.

Controlling a pass out on the left and advancing towards his marker, he turned one way then the other to open up space for an angled drive that flashed fractionally wide of the far post.

Barnet were looking poised in possession and well organised when they had to defend, which they were having to do with increasing regularity as the half wore on.

The Robins were pushing for an equaliser but were finding it elusive as Tylor Golden fired narrowly wide and Newby shot over after being found by Linney.

Not that it was all one-way as half-time approached, and there were two more scares for Alty before the teams made their way off, as Reece Hall-Johnson failed to convert with the goal at his mercy and Kabamba forced a fine save from Ethan Ross.

Alty had a great chance to level the tie in the 49th minute when Newby whipped in a free-kick from the right that skimmed off the head of Jake Bickerstaff and bounced back to him off a defender, only for the striker to blast his effort over the bar.

Two minutes later, Alty were back on terms with an excellently-crafted goal.

Newby motored down the right, after good work by Bickerstaff, and made a point of assessing his options in the middle, biding his time before delivering a ball that was met perfectly in the middle by Crawford with a first-time shot that flew past the keeper.

A sublime flick by Bickerstaff opened up Barnet in the 61st minute and should have led to a second Alty goal, as Newby fastened on to it and surged clear, only to hit a shot that lacked the conviction to beat keeper Owen Evans.

Three minutes later, the Robins did go in front with Crawford's second goal of the game.

The ball was played into a crowded box, and when Evans' punch barely cleared the 18-yard line, Crawford met it with a first-time volley that looped over the stranded keeper and bounced into the back of the net.

With five minutes left, the turnaround was complete as Alty made it 3-1 and made certain of their place in the next round.

A long clearance from Lewis Baines reached Newby, who bore down on goal and, as the keeper advanced towards him, unselfishly rolled the ball to his left, where substitute Nuttall applied the finishing touch, to the delight of Alty fans packed into the Golf Road End.

Altrincham Ross; Banks, Baines (c), Osborne, Marriott (Pasiek, 84'), Linney (Crankshaw, 69'), Newby, Crawford, Golden, Bickerstaff (Nuttall, 84'), Olson. Subs not used: Cooper, J.Jones, Reddin, Randle.

Barnet Evans; Hall-Johnson, Rye, Browne (Brunt, 72'), Kabamba, Kanu, Shelton, Clifford, Grimwood  Kizzi (c), Cropper (Maroodza, 80'). Subs not used: Okimo, Matejko, Rinder, Matyar.

HT 0-1

Goals Crawford 51', 69', Nuttall 85' | Browne 16'

Yellows Newby 30', Olson 67' | Browne 57', Evans 65'

Reds None | None

Referee James Bancroft

Assistants Mark Ryder & Lewis Raper

Fourth official Oliver Noonan

Attendance 1,233 (96 away)

Next Up

Two Vanarama National League home games coming up in the next 10 days at The J.Davidson Stadium.

Next Saturday it's the visit of Wealdstone (tickets here) before Maidenhead United come to town on Tuesday, January 14th when it's Footy For A Fiver!!!