Words John Edwards | Pictures Jonathan Moore

Altrincham 2 Yeovil 1

A win at last for Altrincham at the eighth attempt, and what an irony that the much-maligned Moss Lane playing surface might just have given them a helping hand to keep alive their Vanarama National League play-off hopes.

Time was running out when the Robins won a corner on the left with roughly 90 seconds of the 90 minutes remaining, but the chance looked to have been lost as Elliot Osborne's underhit delivery dipped towards a defender guarding the near side of the six-yard box.

As the ball landed, it took out a divot as it reared up past the defender before dropping obligingly for Lewis Baines, in a central position a few yards out, to connect with a first-time left-foot volley that flew unerringly into the back of the net.

Alty were 2-1 up, and it was a lead they never looked like relinquishing as they sealed the points and moved into eighth, ahead of Southend United on goal difference and only one point behind Rochdale in the last of the play-off positions.

On a hot, sun-baked afternoon, both sides struggled to make much headway in a distinctly low-key opening 25 minutes or so.

When the game belatedly sprang into life, it was Alty who clicked into gear.

Osborne was the catalyst for the upturn in tempo, starting and finishing a 27th-minute move that almost yielded an opening goal.

Osborne's sweeping crossfield pass sent Charlie Olson motoring down the right, and when the ball was finally played infield from the left, after some slick passing near the edge of the Yeovil area, the Robins midfielder was on hand to drive an effort narrowly over from 25 yards.

Two minutes later, Regan Linney weaved his way in from the left and hammered a near-post shot that keeper Aidan Stone did well to block.

Alty were warming to their task, and they went in front on the half-hour as Tom Crawford crossed low from the right of the area and Tylor Golden stole in at the far post to convert the chance with a first-time left-foot finish.

The lead proved shortlived, as Alty were caught out two minutes later by a flick-on near the penalty spot that allowed Frankie Terry to force a close-range shot past Caleb Ansen.

A brilliant spin by Justin Amaluzor gave him the chance to tee up Linney in a dangerous position inside the area on the stroke of half-time, only for Alty's top scorer to take one touch too many  as covering defenders crowded him out before he could get a shot away.

Yeovil had a great chance in the 57th minute when the ball broke to Otis Khan only a few yards out, but the instinctive first-time snap-shot by the winger was straight at Ansen, who safely held on to it.

The pitch was presenting its usual difficulties, with one player after another losing his footing or being confounded by an unwanted bobble.

The game needed a spark, and it will have surprised no-one that Linney was the man to provide it in the 75th minute.

Receiving the ball on the left touchline only a few yards inside the Yeovil half, the Alty striker powered past his marker and kept going, finally cutting in along the bye-line and hitting a shot from a seemingly impossible angle that brought the best out of Stone.

Five minutes later, Linney again took possession out on the left but, this time, cut in on to his right foot and looked to have created the perfect shooting opportunity for himself as he took aim from the edge of the area.

For once, the Alty marksman failed to make a clean connection, possibly due to the playing surface, and his mishit effort bobbled wide.

Finally the breakthrough Alty had been striving for materialised, as Osborne's left-wing corner took out a chunk of turf as it landed just short of the near post and sat up for Baines to volley unerringly past Stone from close range.

Substitute Alex Newby hit the outside of the post in added time, as Alty finished strongly and secured the win that will surely lift everyone's spirits for the run-in to the campaign.

Harvey Nichols MOTM Lewis Baines

Altrincham Ansen; Banks, Baines (c), Osborne, Linney, Amaluzor, Kosylo (Reddin, 70'), Crawford, Golden, Olson, Dolan (Newby, 81'). Subs not used: Weaver, Randle, Powell, Penney.

Yeovil Stone; Whittle (c) (McLean, 27'), Cousin-Dawson, Lo-Everton, Sims (Wannell, 46'), Cooper (Kite, 27'), Ferguson, Khan (Lavinier 77'), Bernard, McGuckin (Greenslade, 60'), Terry. Subs not used: Gould, Smith.

HT 1-1

Goals Golden 30', Baines 88' | Terry 32'

Yellows Banks 37' | Ferguson 37', Cousin-Dawson 82', Lavinier 83', Bernard 85'

Reds None | None

Referee Dale Baines

Assistant Martin Parker & David Holmes

Fourth official Kavan Hurn

Attendance 1,851 (192 away)

Next Up

It's Lincolnshire next Saturday and a tilt with Boston United at the Jakemans Community Stadium. Standing tickets are available from our hosts here priced £17 adults, £14 concessions, £6 under-16s and FREE under-5s.

If you're looking for away travel, our friends from Union Golf Road are running a coach which can be booked here.