Words John Edwards | Pictures Jonathan Moore

Altrincham 0 Macclesfield 0

(Alty win 4-2 on penalties)

The wind was not far off gale force from start to finish, but Altrincham's players were determined not to be blown off course as they prevailed on penalties in a hard-fought derby duel at The J.Davidson Stadium.

Given the appalling conditions, it was perhaps no great surprise that the 90 minutes ended goalless, despite late Alty pressure that so nearly produced a breakthrough, not least when Regan Linney hit the bar.

It meant a test of nerve and nous from the penalty spot to decide which of these two fierce rivals would take their place in the fourth round of the Isuzu FA Trophy.

Ethan Ross set the tone with an exceptional save from the opening spot-kick, plunging low to his right to get a hand to a well-struck effort, and when Linney calmly slotted home Alty's fourth a few moments later, the Robins were over the line, to the delight of a packed Golf Road End in a 3,000-plus crowd.

Macclesfield had done almost as much as the weather to make it hard for Alty, even down to 10 men after a straight red card for skipper Paul Dawson, but the Robins always had the upper hand and were good value for an albeit slightly edgy win.

The ferocity of the wind was evident before kick-off from the way one sudden gust after another kept blowing the match ball off its plinth.

A member of the backroom staff retrieved it and put it back in position each time until finally giving up when the plinth itself was blown over.

It was going to be a test for the players of both sides, but Alty's settled into their stride quickly and nearly forced a way through in only the third minute.

Good pressing led to a clearance being charged down, and after a couple of attempts at a shot by Alty players in and around the area, Matty Kosylo got one away, only for it to hit a defender and fly away for a corner.

Heavy rain was driving into the faces of Macclesfield's players, and their fans behind the goal, and the Robins seemed intent on making the most of it in the early stages.

They were still looking for a way to make it pay when the Silkmen finally made inroads towards the Alty area in the 15th minute and almost went ahead against the run of play.

A free-kick was given for handball near Alty's 18-yard line, and James Edmondson curled it over the wall and no more than a couple of inches wide of the left post.

There was another scare for Alty in the 21st minute when a corner from the left caused havoc in the Robins' six-yard box and fell for Danny Elliott to hammer a shot that was blocked.

Tempers boiled over in the 24th minute when a terrible challenge on Elliot Osborne left the Alty skipper in agony on the turf and players from both sides squaring up to each other.

In one of many unseemly tussles, Kosylo was floored by an elbow to the face, and when order was finally restored, there was a straight red card for Dawson and a yellow for Edmondson.

Alty immediately sought to make their numerical advantage count against the 10 men of Macc, with Alex Newby forcing an uncomfortable save from Max Dearnley in the 28th minute as the Robins stepped up the tempo.

With such a strong wind behind them and the ball skidding off the wet surface, it made sense for Alty to put Dearnley to the test whenever possible, and they did it again a minute later.

This time, it was George Wilson trying his luck from distance, and the Macclesfield keeper did well to palm a well-struck effort over the bar.

In keeping with the at-times overly competitive edge that had been simmering for much of the first half, Tre Pemberton greeted the sound of the half-time whistle by doing his best to pick a fight with Kosylo and then Linney as the players made their way off.

Tylor Golden had to be alert to prevent the visitors going in front in the 50th minute, popping up at the far post to head off the line after Luke Duffy curled a shot beyond the reach of Ross.

The chance of the game fell to Alty in the 70th minute, when Linney rolled the ball across the edge of the six-yard box from the left into the path of an unmarked Newby, who miscued an attempted tap-in, with the goal at his mercy.

Another Alty opportunity came and went in the 79th minute when substitute Jake Bickerstaff teed up Linney for a cross that fell invitingly for Lewis Banks at the far post.

Unfortunately for the Robins, Banks could not steer his first-time effort on target, and the chance was lost.

Banks made better contact in the 81st minute, but Dearnley was able to smother it at the second attempt.

Alty twice went agonisingly close to winning it late on, both times through Linney.

First, he cut inside past two challenges with a dazzling turn of pace in the 89th minute before drilling a low angled shot that was bundled behind by Dearnley.

Seconds later, the Alty danger man hit a shot that looped into the air and landed on the bar before bouncing to safety.

Finally, Bickerstaff stabbed the ball goalwards but not with enough conviction to beat Dearnley as the tie entered the first of three additional minutes.

And so on to penalties, and what a save by Ross to deflate Macclesfield spirits and lift Alty's.

Osborne, Newby and Banks all held their nerve to put Alty in charge of the shoot-out, and when Macc missed another with a kick that struck the bar, it only remained for Linney to stride forward and convert with an ease that belied the pressure on him.

It hadn't been pretty - it was never likely to be, given the conditions - but Alty were through, derby winners and deservedly so, and the celebrations that followed underlined how much it meant to all concerned.

Harvey Nichols MOTM Charlie Olson

Altrincham Ross; Banks, Cooper, Osborne (c), Linney, Newby, Kosylo, Wilson (Marriott, 76'), Reddin (Bickerstaff, 64'), Golden, Olson. Subs not used: Baines, Humbles, Randle.

Macclesfield Dearnley; Pemberton, Kengni, Rooney, Mendy, Dawson (c), Curran (Fensome, 27'), Edmondson (Whitehead, 73'), Mellor, Elliott (Johnson, 62'), Duffy. Subs not used: Lee, Gabidon, Heathcote, Maieco.

HT 0-0

Goals None | None

Penalties Whitehead (Saved); Osborne (Scored); Duffy (Scored); Newby (Scored); Mellor (Scored); Banks (Scored); Johnson (Missed); Linney (Scored)

Yellows None | Edmondson 23', Pemberton 54'

Reds None | Dawson 23'

Referee Ruebyn Ricardo

Assistants Jason Roberts & Zharir Mustafa

Fourth official Luis Griffiths

Attendance 3,032 (1,030 away)

Next Up

We travel to Wealdstone on Tuesday night for our next Vanarama National League clash. Kick-off is 7:45pm and tickets are available from our hosts here.