Words John Edwards | Pictures Noah Shulman-Miller

Barnet 2 Altrincham 1

The curse of the stoppage-time winner struck Altrincham again as a last-gasp headed goal gave Barnet all three points at The Hive on Tuesday night.

Five minutes of added time had elapsed when Forest Green Rovers pinched the points just over a fortnight ago, and it was late heartbreak again for the Robins as Barnet made it 2-1 midway through the second of five extra minutes allotted by the referee.

It was hard to take for Alty after they had led through Justin Amaluzor's first goal of the season in the 14th minute, only to be pegged back before half-time and finally undone at the death, just as a deserved point seemed to be in the bag.

Barnet made most of the early running without ever looking overly threatening, as was the case the one time they fashioned a shooting opportunity, when a mishit effort by Callum Stead trickled harmlessly into the waiting hands of Ethan Ross.

That was in the 12th minute, and, two minutes later, Alty were in front with what was a classic example of how to hit a team on the counter.

Amaluzor spread the ball out to Regan Linney on the left and kept motoring into the Barnet area to meet the resulting low cross from the Alty striker with a smart finish at the near post.

Great stuff from both Alty players, Amaluzor showing real intent to continue his run into the box and and Linney picking him out with a pinpoint delivery.

The lead did not last long, as Barnet hit back with a well-worked equaliser in the 27th minute.

Zak Brunt seized on a pass from inside his own half before threading a perfectly-weighted ball through to Harry Chapman, who slotted past Ross to make it 1-1.

There had been few clear-cut chances for either side as half-time approached, but the way Alty took the one that counted for them and generally defended resolutely and pushed forward whenever possible, they were good value for going in on level terms.

The Robins created a 48th-minute opening out of nothing in a bright start to the second half.

A quick free-kick caught the Barnet defence off guard and gave Alex Newby the opportunity to fire in a low drive from a good position that keeper Nick Hayes only managed to save at the second attempt.

Alty looked to be on for a second goal when Newby broke clear from inside his own half and suddenly looked as if he might have a clear path towards the Barnet area.

But enough defenders sprinted back to force the Alty winger to check his stride, enabling the home side to regroup and block off the route to goal.

Substitute Jordan Cropper was causing Alty problems down the Barnet right, and it took another entry into the Ethan Ross catalogue of unbelievable saves to thwart an opportunity created by the winger's direct style in the 71st minute.

Not for the first time in the second half, Cropper powered towards the bye-line and whipped in a cross that reached Mark Shelton, who spun on the ball and cracked a low shot that Ross somehow go a hand to, low down to his right.

Shelton was left staring at Ross in disbelief, and even Alty fans who are beginning to grow accustomed to such heroics may well have been shaking their heads in wonder, it was that exceptional a reflex action.

The near-miss sparked a spell of frenzied pressure from the home side, but another Ross stop coupled with some desperate last-ditch defending kept them at bay as the 90-minute mark came and went.

Unfortunately, it couldn't do the same for the five minutes the referee saw fit to add on, as Cropper hurled a long throw into the Alty area from the left, and Rhys Browne applied the finishing touch with a glancing header from close range at the near post.

Even then, a point Alty's endeavour deserved might have been salvaged, but for substitute Matty Kosylo dragging a shot agonisingly side of the left post from the edge of the area seconds before the final whistle sounded.

Barnet Hayes; Rye (Cropper, 61'), Stead, Chapman (Okimo, 90'+5), Glover, Brunt, Hartigan (c), Shelton (Browne, 74'), Oluwo, Grimwood (Kizzi, 90'+2), Kenlock. Subs not used: Cocker, Gillmore, Wilkinson.

Altrincham Ross; Banks (Nuttall, 90'+5), E.Jones, Cooper, Linney (Reddin, 66'), Newby (Bickerstaff, 59'), Amaluzor (Kosylo, 81'), Humbles (Osborne, 75'), J.Jones (c), Crawford, Golden. Subs not used: Thompson, Randle.

HT 1-1

Goals Chapman 27', Browne 90'+2 | Amaluzor 14'

Yellows Brunt 41', Shelton 47', Rye 60' | E.Jones 53', Amaluzor 60', Banks 90'

Reds None | None

Referee Lauren Impey

Assistants Andrew Bennett & Michael Hayden

Fourth official Stephen Hughes

Attendance 1,207 (54 away)

Next Up

Another long away trip, this time to Somerset to face Yeovil Town - tickets can be bought here for the Screwfix Stand Block P - £17 Adults, £15 Concessions/Armed Forces, £13 Students/Under-18s, £5 Under-16s, £3 Accompanied Under-12s.

Many thanks to main shirt sponsor AO for putting on a FREE supporters' coach, in association with Union Golf Road, for the trip.