Words John Edwards | Pictures Jonathan Moore

Altrincham 1 Eastleigh 0

Altrincham have Wembley Stadium firmly in their sights after a trademark Regan Linney goal in the last minute of normal time settled a fiercely-contested Isuzu FA Trophy fifth-round tie at The J.Davidson Stadium.

Is there a more adept exponent of cutting in from the left and scoring in a wide range of different ways than Alty's irrepressible leading marksman?

It's difficult to think of one after the way he banished the spectre of a penalty shoot-out by threading the ball through the eye of a needle halfway through the 90th minute to light the blue touchpaper for an eruption of elation mixed with relief on a rammed Golf Road End terrace.

The dreaded spot-kicks were looming when Linney gained possession out on the flank and skipped past one challenge then another before drilling a shot into the far corner of the net from what seemed an impossible angle.

It needed something special to break down a stubborn Eastleigh defence, and Linney supplied it with immaculate timing, his 17th goal of the campaign leaving the Robins having only to negotiate two minutes of added time to book their place in the quarter-finals.

It was tough going, but Alty did enough to warrant their inclusion in a last eight draw that will be broadcast on TalkSPORT2 on Monday afternoon at around 3.15pm.

Alty went close to going ahead in the 17th minute when Elliot Osborne cut in from the left and rolled a pass with the outside of his right foot towards the waiting Justin Amaluzor.

It would have been a routine close-range finish for Amaluzor, had the ball reached him, but an outstretched boot from an Eastleigh defender dashed Alty's hopes and diverted the ball behind for a corner.

On a difficult surface that was cutting up, the Robins were making most of the early running without managing to trouble Joe McDonnell in the Eastleigh goal.

Another chance came and went in the 24th minute when Linney drilled a waist-high cross from the left towards Amaluzor.

It was always going to be an awkward height for the Alty winger, and his first-time effort duly sailed harmlessly wide.

A clever one-two between Lewis Banks and Joe Nuttall almost opened up the Eastleigh defence in the 32nd minute, only for the final ball from Banks to get stuck under Linney's boot when it looked to have played the Alty striker in for a clear sight of goal from near the penalty spot.

By the time he sorted his feet out, defenders had converged on him, and the chance was lost.

A brilliant piece of improvisation by Linney led to another Alty opportunity in the 43rd minute.

As the ball dropped from quite a height out on the left flank, a sublime touch from Linney not only prevented it going out for a throw but sent it looping over the head of close marker Richard Brindley, enabling the Robins frontrunner to surge clear towards the corner flag.

From his resulting cross, Amaluzor had a shot blocked and Alex Newby had a follow-up effort that was also charged down by covering defenders.

Luck continued to desert Alty on the stroke of half-time as Nuttall met an Osborne corner from the right with a far-post header that flashed narrowly wide.

Eastleigh had created little in the first half, but it took an exceptional save by Ethan Ross to deny them in the 53rd minute.

Centre-back Ludwig Francillette spun in a crowded area and hit a firm low shot that Ross did superbly to reach and smother with a sharp dive to his right.

A minute later, Amaluzor was sent through on goal, only for McDonnell to sprint from his line and block the Alty forward's shot.

Substitute Jake Bickerstaff showed some lovely touches after going on in the 69th minute, and, from one of them, Linney set up Tylor Golden for a raking shot from outside the area that was deflected fractionally wide of the left post.

Was a goal ever going to come? The doubts began to grow, as Linney headed a Newby cross straight at McDonnell and Bickerstaff was denied by the keeper at the near post after working an opening for himself.

They were swept away in an instant, though, as Linney worked his magic on the left flank as only he can with a flash of opportunism that sent Alty fans into raptures and the team a significant step nearer realising their dream of a day out at Wembley.

Harvey Nichols Man Of The Match Tom Crawford

Altrincham Ross; Banks, Baines (c), Osborne, Linney, Newby, Amaluzor, Crawford, Golden, Nuttall (Bickerstaff, 69'), Olson. Subs not used: Cooper, Taylor, Kosylo, Reddin, Randle, Pasiek.

Eastleigh McDonnell; Brindley, Fernandez, Francillette, Maguire (c), Waruih, Boutin, Close (Humphries, 80'), Pyke, Underhill (Semenyo, 90'+1), Maher. Subs not used: Scott, Hodson, Semenyo, Rogers, Fox.

HT 0-0

Goals Linney 90' | None

Yellows Bickerstaff 72', Osborne 90'+3 | Close 40', Maher 72', McDonnell 82'

Reds None | None

Referee James Oldham

Assistant Daniel Smith & Adam Burgess

Fourth official Harry Jones

Attendance 1,464 (47 away)

Next Up

Everyone back to The J.Davidson Stadium again next Saturday (3pm) as our four-game homestand finishes with a Vanarama National League fixture against Braintree Town.

General admission tickets are on sale here, but hospitality in The John King Lounge is already SOLD OUT!