Words John Edwards | Pictures Jonathan Moore

Altrincham 4 Ebbsfleet United 0

The goals are flying in again for Altrincham after Ebbsfleet United were torn apart by a dazzling display of free-flowing attacking football on an overcast but sultry afternoon at The J.Davidson Stadium.

Two goals in as many minutes early on set the tone, as a Regan Linney curler gave the Robins a ninth-minute lead and Alex Newby doubled it seconds later with a crisp low drive from the edge of the area.

A perfectly-executed first-time half-volley from Eddy Jones made it 3-0 less than a minute into the second half, and a fourth followed when winger Kahrel Reddin registered his first goal for the club in the 87th minute.

Considering Newby and Reddin both hit the post, it could easily have been another six-goal hiding for the visitors at the home of Alty, but there will be no complaints from boss Phil Parkinson after the way his side turned it on in front of very nearly 2,000 Robins fans.

Alty were making inroads down the left from the start, and it led to their first attempt on goal in the eighth minute.

Tom Crawford's cross from out on the flank was touched back by Newby to Linney, whose ambitious first-time volley sailed over the bar.

There was no reprieve for Ebbsfleet a minute later, as the Robins stamped their mark on proceedings with a ninth-minute opener.

Newby looked to have delayed his pass to Linney out on the left a fraction too long, but when it arrived at the striker's feet, he finished with aplomb.

One touch was all it needed for Linney to open up a shooting opportunity that he whipped just inside the right-hand post with curl and pace.

Ebbsfleet were left wondering what had it them as Alty doubled their lead just one minute after that spectacular strike.

This time, Newby gained possession the best part of 25 yards out and took a step forward before putting his boot through a left-foot shot that beat Mark Cousins' dive and nestled in the same corner of the net that Linney had so carefully aimed at.

Two goals up inside the first 10 minutes, a repeat of last season's 6-1 demolition job on Ebbsfleet was beginning to look a distinct possibility, particularly with Alty so clearly in the mood to add to their tally.

A decisive tackle by Jake Cooper midway inside his own half in the 14th minute gave Newby the chance to find Linney, and when the ball was swiftly transferred across to Justin Amaluzor on the right, the winger controlled it and lashed a shot narrowly over.

Ebbsfleet were showing signs of being rattled, and they almost paid the price for surrendering possession in a dangerous area a minute later.

Linney combined with Jake Bickerstaff, whose pass gave Newby the opportunity to hammer a shot that thumped against the right-hand upright.

Alty were in complete control, and there was another scare for the visitors in the 29th minute when, after a spell of patient passing that saw the Robins work both flanks, Elliot Osborne let fly with a rising drive that appeared goalbound until deflecting off a defender's head for a corner.

On the odd occasion Ebbsfleet threatened, they came up against a resolute Alty defence, not least in the 40th minute when a superb defensive header by Jake Cooper prevented a left-wing cross reaching striker Rakish Bingham on the edge of the six-yard area.

If Alty wasted no time putting themselves in the ascendancy in the first half, they started the second 45 minutes in even more eye-catching fashion.

Play had been underway all of 40 seconds when a right-wing cross was only half-cleared towards the lurking Eddy Jones, who met it with an unerring half-volley that fairly flew into the bottom right corner of Cousins' net.

What a way for Eddy's dad to celebrate his birthday - well played, son!

A fourth almost followed in the 56th minute, as Linney seized possession inside his own half and released Bickerstaff on a run towards the Ebbsfleet area that ended with a return pass to Linney, whose shot was saved by the diving Cousins.

On-loan signing Liam Humbles was handed his Alty debut as a 63rd-minute replacement for Bickerstaff, who had been growing in confidence and looking increasingly comfortable in the red and white stripes.

Cousins was called into action again in the 71st minute when a link-up between Linney and Lewis Banks led to a shooting opportunity for Osborne that forced a diving save from the Ebbsfleet keeper.

Crawford is still waiting for his first Alty goal, but he is unlikely to get a better opportunity than the one that presented itself in the 76th minute.

Linney again popped up to good effect on the left, and when substitute Reddin controlled his low cross and teed up Crawford, a goal appeared to be on the cards for the summer signing from Hartlepool United.

The hard-working midfielder again contributed significantly overall, but he will have been disappointed, to say the least, with the way he dragged his shot wide from the most inviting of positions.

Alty kept pushing forward, and another chance went begging in the 80th minute, as Reddin rolled the ball across the edge of the area to Linney, who scooped a first-time shot over.

A highly-satisfactory afternoon was rounded off in the 87th minute with a goal superbly created by Humbles and expertly tucked away by Reddin.

The ball from Humbles was measured to perfection to send Reddin surging clear, and as he closed in on goal, the winger steadied himself for a second before rifling a low drive just inside the near post.

Despite conceding four times, the Ebbsfleet goal had actually led something of a charmed existence, and there was final remarkable let-off in the last minute of added time when a floated cross from Reddin smacked against the inside of the far post and rolled back across the line obligingly into the arms of Cousins.

Harvey Nichols MOTM Regan Linney

Altrincham Ross; Banks, E.Jones (Reddin, 74'), Cooper, Osborne, Linney (Thompson, 85'), Newby (Kosylo, 66'), Amaluzor (Reddin, 70'), J.Jones (c), Crawford, Bickerstaff (Humbles, 63'). Subs not used: Haygarth, Randle.

Ebbsfleet Cousins; Page (Domi, 57'), Wright (c) (Thomas, 65'), Cordner, Bingham (Fonguck, 60'), Randall (Kellermann, 60'), Poleon, Edser, Phillips (O'Neill, 65'), Chapman, Dallison. Subs not used: Olagunju, Berry.

HT 2-0

Goals Linney 9', Newby 10', E.Jones 46', Reddin 87' | None

Yellows None | Dallison 89'

Reds None | None

Referee James Westgate

Assistants Niall Fenton & Jack Nield

Fourth official Harry Warner

Attendance 2,024 (74 away)

Next Up

We head for Barnet on Tuesday evening for a 7:45pm kick-off in the Vanarama National League. Tickets available from our hosts here.

Can't make the game in London? We've got an official FREE Watch Party at The J.Davidson Stadium (including England v Finland coverage, too). Doors to the Community Sports Hall open at 7:15pm and the bar will, of course, be open.