Words John Edwards | Pictures Jonathan Moore

Altrincham 2 Southend United 0

Altrincham made it five games unbeaten with a dominant display that had its foundation in a hugely-impressive show of rock-solid defensive discipline at The J.Davidson Stadium this afternoon.

Southend had their moments - nothing like as many as Alty, it has to be said - but each and everyone of them foundered on a well-drilled Robins defence that was superbly marshalled by Harvey Nichols man-of-the-match Lewis Baines.

It meant the midfield had the perfect platform to impose themselves on the game and carve out a string of clear-cut openings that could easily have led to a much wider winning margin.

As it was, an attack spearheaded effectively by Joe Nuttall, with Matty Kosylo, Alex Newby and Regan Linney providing lively support, converted two of them, and, with those behind them standing firm, it was to prove enough.

Nuttall slotted home the first goal in the ninth minute, and when Newby added a second shortly before half-time, Alty were well on their way to a thoroughly-merited win that lifted them to 10th in the Vanarama National League, just a couple of points off the play-off places.

There was an early scare for the Robins inside 90 seconds, as powerful striker Aribim Pepple shrugged off a challenge and hammered a left-foot shot narrowly wide of the far post.

Eddy Jones tested Southend keeper Zach Jeacock with a low drive from distance in the eighth minute in what proved to be the prelude to a brilliant opening goal just seconds later.

Elliot Osborne started it with a superb run in the middle of the pitch that took him surging past two challenges and opened up room for a pass to Kosylo, in space to his right.

Kosylo suddenly looked on for a carbon copy of his dramatic last-minute equaliser at Solihull Moors as he shaped to shoot from the inside-right channel near the edge of the area.

Instead, he cut back on to his left foot, and though he appeared to slip slightly as he did, Newby was on hand to seize possession and weave his way past two challenges in the tightest of spots before rolling the ball to Nuttall, who made no mistake from close range.

Kosylo almost doubled Alty's lead in the 15th minute when the ball broke to him in the area and he hit a shot that looked bound for the corner of Southend's net until cannoning into a defender.

Alty were looking by far the more threatening, and another inviting chance fell their way in the 20th minute when a clearance by keeper Harvey Randle was allowed to run through to Newby after Linney cleverly ducked under it.

Newby was suddenly in the clear on the left of the area, but after dragging the ball back on to his favoured right foot, his crisply-hit shot was blocked by Jeacock.

Another flowing Alty move carved out yet another presentable opportunity in the 24th minute.

Lewis Banks played a one-two with Linney and went charging forward before playing the ball into the path of the overlapping Kosylo, rapidly approaching the bye-line on the right.

When Kosylo looked up and picked out Linney near the penalty spot, the striker's first-time shot was safely held by Jeacock.

For all Alty's attacking verve, they were so nearly pegged back in the 37th minute, when Pepple burst into the left side of the area and unleashed a shot that rattled the crossbar.

Even then, Alty had to rely on an ever-alert Tom Crawford to preserve their lead, as he flung himself in the way of a follow-up attempt to pull off the timeliest of blocks.

The Robins made the most of their narrow escape with a second goal in the 42nd minute.

Osborne provided a pinpoint through ball, not for the first time, to send Linney scurrying away down the left. When the Alty striker tried to turn inside his marker, the ball broke free to Newby, whose low shot proved too good for Jeacock.

What a time to double the lead, and Alty were good value for the scoreline as they headed for the dressing room at the end of a highly entertaining first 45 minutes.

They started the second half in encouraging fashion, too, with Linney nearly making it 3-0 in the 51st minute.

Osborne's distribution was again to the fore, an excellent ball down the right channel enabling Linney to twist past a challenge before rifling an angled drive that flashed just the wrong side of the far post.

Two minutes after that, Linney was left shaking his head after appearing to be tripped inside the area, only for referee Will Davis to wave away the penalty appeals and award a goal-kick.

Randle was looking a more than capable deputy for the unwell Ethan Ross between the posts, and he excelled himself with a top-drawer save from Pepple in the 66th minute to safeguard Alty's two-goal cushion.

In truth, it was a rare example of Southend being able to test the Alty keeper, so adept were those in front of him at keeping Southend's attackers at arm's length.

As the light faded and Southend's frustration grew, the points were safely in the bag for an Alty side who are starting to build momentum in a way that bodes well for the rest of the campaign.

Harvey Nichols MOTM Lewis Baines

Altrincham Randle; Banks, E.Jones, Baines (c), Osborne (Marriott, 89'), Linney (Cooper, 75'), Newby, Kosylo (Wilson, 62'), J.Jones, Crawford, Nuttall (Bickerstaff, 83'). Subs not used: Reddin, Golden, Donawa.

Southend Jeacock; Scott-Morriss, Ralph (c), Crowther, Bridge, Husin (Wood, 76'), Walker (Bonne, 64'), Taylor, Miley (Morton, 83'), Pepple, Moncur (Appiah-Forson, 64'). Subs not used: Wind, Coker, Andeng-Ndi.

HT 2-0

Goals Nuttall 8', Newby 42' | None

Yellows Linney 71' | None

Reds None | None

Referee William Davis

Assistants Ashley Allen & Ryan Aldred

Fourth official Charles Martland

Attendance 2,536 (373 away)

Next Up

We welcome Manchester United under-21s to The J.Davidson Stadium for group stage action in the National League Cup.

Sponsored by AO, the game on Tuesday (7:30pm) is a general admission sell out. Entry is strictly by advanced ticket only on the night with turnstile open from 6pm.

A very small number of hospitality tickets remain available for £40pp - click here to book.