Words Alex Birch | Pictures Jonathan Moore

Forest Green Rovers 2 Altrincham 1

ALTRINCHAM were hit with an injury-time sucker punch as hosts Forest Green Rovers claimed three points at The New Lawn.

Charlie McCann swept home through a crowded box to give the home side victory in a game the Robins had done well to fight back in during a tense second half.

An early chance came and went in the first half for Alex Newby, as Alty began with some authority, before Ethan Ross made a contender for save of the season with a stunning wingspan block of Christian Doidge's close range effort on six minutes.

Once the play settled down it was Alty continuing to make most of the running. Newby saw a deep cross flapped at by Jed Ward in the home goal, under pressure from James Jones, and Justin Amaluzor whipped an effort wide from range.

Then, one long ball up the field ended in Rovers taking a 21st minute lead. Emmanuel Osadebe helped Ward's clearance on to Doidge who turned and shot low past Ross from 20 yards.

It was against the run of play and stemmed the tide of Alty attacks, with another chance falling to the home side soon after. Luckily for the Robins McCann was wasteful, blazing over with the goal at his mercy.

Osadebe also went close for Rovers before the break, scuffing wide from 10 yards and although Alty regained their grip on the tempo and flow, no equaliser was forthcoming.

The second half opened in a scrappy manor with neither team able to properly grab hold of the game. 

Alty made all five subs before the 70 minute mark in an attempt to break the relative stalemate of the half. Rovers stood firm, creating one chance that Teddy Jenks flashed wide from close in and another which Liam Sercombe smashed into the sidenetting.

Then, with a little bit of pressure on the home goal, Alty struck back with seven to play. Matty Kosylo jinked inside the left channel and laid the ball off for George Wilson to drive home via a deflection from just outside the box.

Cue bedlam in the away end and on the visiting bench. It was nothing less than Alty deserved. Unfortunately there was a sting in the tail via the right boot of midfielder McCann as time expired.

Forest Green Ward; Tozer (c), Inniss, Osadebe (Bunker, 90'+5), McCann, Doidge, Sercombe (Moore-Taylor, 82') Knowles (Long, 61'), Robson, May, Jenks (Omotoye, 82'). Subs not used: Searle.

Altrincham Ross; Banks, E.Jones (Golden, 46'), Baines (c), Osborne (Wilson, 59'), Linney, Newby (Haygarth, 66'), Amaluzor (Nuttall, 68'), J.Jones, Reddin (Kosylo, 62'), Crawford. Subs not used: Cooper, Randle.

HT 1-0

Goals Doidge 21', McCann 90'+4 | Wilson 83'

Yellows Robson 56' | E.Jones 32', Amaluzor 63', Haygarth 87', Banks 90'+3

Reds None | None

Referee Abigail Byrne

Assistants Andrew Ellis & James Tewson

Fourth official Kevin Morris

Attendance Not announced

Next Up

Oldham Athletic at The J.Davidson Stadium on Saturday afternoon (3pm). Gates will open at 1:30pm with the Fan Zone available to home fans all afternoon.

Tickets for home fans are available here costing £22 Adults; £17 Concessions; £10 12-17s; £5 5-11s; £1 under-5s.

If you fancy hospitality for £70 in The John King Lounge click here.