Words John Edwards | Pictures Stefan Willoughby

Altrincham 4 Stoke City 1

The National League Cup may not have met with universal approval among Altrincham fans, but what's not to like about seeing your team steamroller the opposition with an eye-catching show of attacking football capped by four goals, one an absolute cracker, all free of charge thanks to match sponsors OBI Property?

Stoke's under-21 side had plenty of pace and power and no little ability on the ball, and they may well have fancied their chances after going in front early on in this group game at The J.Davidson Stadium.

But they were no match for Alty, as the in-form Robins kept alive their hopes of reaching the knock-out stages with a James Jones equaliser before half-time and further goals from man-of-the-match Tom Crawford, Tylor Golden and Jake Bickerstaff.

All four Alty goals had something about them to be admired, but it was Golden's that stood out, a spectacular first-time shot hit so truly and so firmly that no blame could be attached to keeper Alfie Brooks for being beaten at his near post.

Louie Fallon was given an opportunity in goal behind a strong, experienced line-up of outfield players, and there was further evidence of youth coming through the ranks in the welcome inclusion on the bench of two bright sparks from the Academy in Harrison Howells and Afernee Denise.

Energetic as ever, Matty Kosylo was heavily involved early on, running at defenders and trying to open up Stoke's defence, and he was almost on the scoresheet in only the third minute.

His persistence on the left of the area gave Kahrel Reddin the chance to fire in a shot that was blocked, and when Kossy seized on the rebound himself, his effort looked goalbound until cannoning into a defender.

Alty were settling into their stride, and when they launched another attack in the 10th minute, Crawford tried his luck from distance with a shot that flew a couple of yards wide.

Kosylo was in the thick of the action again in the 11th minute when pressure from Bickerstaff forced Jake Griffin into a misplaced back pass that went out for a corner.

Kosylo played it short to Reddin and was on hand to receive a clever back-heeled return pass that enabled him to cut in and hammer a left-foot shot wide of the far post.

Stoke's youngsters looked accomplished going forward, but there was little sign of a goal threat from them until Chinonso Chibueze found space on the left of the area for a shot that was blocked and cleared in the 17th minute.

Even so, it was the visitors who went ahead in the 23rd minute when a misplaced pass out from Fallon was pounced on by Jack Griffiths, who made no mistake with an unerring finish into the bottom right corner of the net.

Fallon redeemed himself in the 27th minute, flying to his left to hold on to a rising drive from the edge of the area.

A lively interchange of passes between Kosylo, Crawford and Bickerstaff almost opened up Stoke on the half-hour, only for Kossy to be crowded out at the last moment as he tried to make space for a shot.

Alty constructed another promising move on the right in the 33rd minute, but the finishing touch it required eluded George Wilson, who steered his finish off-target from Bickerstaff's cut-back.

The Robins should have been level in the 34th minute when the ball broke for Bickerstaff just a few yards from goal, only for his first-time shot to be blocked by Brooks, who read the danger superbly.

Alty did haul themselves back on to level terms in the 43rd minute when Eddy Jones' deep corner from the right was headed back across goal by Jake Cooper and then flicked on for James Jones to nod over the line from a yard out.

Liam Humbles was one of three Alty substitutes to start the second half, and he nearly made an immediate impact with a pinpoint through ball that Reddin just failed to take in his stride when a clear run on goal beckoned.

It was another sign Alty were in the mood to make their mark on the competition, and they went ahead in the 50th minute with a peach of a goal from Golden.

Reddin was played into space on the right flank, and the winger motored towards the bye-line before checking back and rolling the ball into the path of Golden, who hit an exceptional first-time shot that fairly flew past a startled Brooks into the roof of the net at the near post.

The Robins had the comfort of a two-goal cushion after Crawford headed them further in front in the 58th minute.

The versatile midfielder may be better known for his silky skills on the ball, but the way he rose to meet an Eddy Jones free-kick was reminiscent of a big target man with a penchant for headed goals.

When a sweeping crossfield ball from Elliot Osborne was flicked on by Bickerstaff, it almost led to a magical moment for young substitute Howells, who controlled it with his left foot before volleying a shot wide of the far post.

Fallon was called into action a minute later, and he was up to the task with a smart save low down to deny Stoke skipper Sol Sidibe.

Humbles had looked lively and effective since going on as substitute, and when he threaded a superb ball through to Reddin, the winger was out of luck with a shot into the side netting.

Alty were finishing strongly, and Crawford was only denied a second goal on the night by a sprawling save by Brooks in the 88th minute.

Humbles' distribution took the eye again in the first of four added minutes with a pass that was placed and paced to perfection for Bickerstaff to latch on to and calmly slot past the advancing Brooks to round off a highly satisfactory evening for the Robins.

Harvey Nichols MOTM Tom Crawford

Altrincham Fallon; Banks (Golden, 46'), E.Jones, Cooper, Marriott (c) (Osborne, 70'), Kosylo (Howells, 60'), J.Jones (Baines, 46'), Wilson (Humbles, 46'), Reddin, Crawford, Bickerstaff. Subs not used: Ross, Denise.

Stoke Brooks; Dixon, Agina, Griffin, Anderson, Gromek (Enabulele, 68'), Lipsiuc (Adekoya, 80'), Sidibe (c), Chibueze (Maskell, 54'), Tezgel, Griffiths. Subs not used: McGuinness, Cooper, Willox, Grogan.

HT 1-1

Goals J.Jones 43', Golden 50', Crawford 58', Bickerstaff 90+1' | Griffiths 23'

Yellows E.Jones 40', Humbles 83', Golden 90'+3 | Anderson 57', Agina 68', Sidibe 80'

Reds None | None

Referee Paul Cooper

Assistants Reval Cheosiaua & Timothy Walker

Fourth official Drew Dutton

Attendance 879

Next Up

The Isuzu FA Trophy Third Round and Macclesfield's visit to The J.Davidson Stadium - Saturday at 3pm.

Home tickets on sale here. Hospitality in the John King Lounge here.