Words John Edwards | Pictures Jonathan Moore

FC Halifax Town 0 Altrincham 3

Altrincham breathed new life into play-off hopes that had been hanging by a thread after turning in an away performance that was as near flawless as makes no difference at The Shay this afternoon.

All the pre-match build-up at the home of FC Halifax Town focused on how a combination of three points for their side and no more than one for Southend United at Ebbsfleet would confirm their qualification for the play-offs.

By the end of a chastening 90 minutes for the Shaymen, they were looking nervously over their shoulders, well beaten by an Alty team who went ahead early on through Jake Bickerstaff and turned the screw in the second half with a double from Regan Linney that took his goal tally for the season in the league to 23.

The table suddenly makes interesting reading, as the Robins prepare to head for Essex on Saturday to face Dagenham & Redbridge before rounding off their fixture list at home to Tamworth on Monday May 5th.

They are now within striking distance of the play-off positions, three points behind seventh-placed Gateshead and with Halifax and Rochdale also in their sights.

It's still a long shot, admittedly, but this Alty team are not exactly known for throwing the towel in and will continue to do their utmost to ensure manager Phil Parkinson was spot-on with his recent prediction that the battle to participate in the end-of-season promotion shoot-out will go right to the last kick of the last game.

It was a finish of the highest order by Bickerstaff that gave the Robins the ideal boost of an early breakthrough.

A searching through ball by Elliot Osborne from inside his own half was flicked on by Lewis Banks for Bickerstaff to latch on to on the right edge of the area.

The on-loan striker still had plenty to do, particularly given an angle that was becoming ever more acute as Toby Savin began to advance from his line, but there was nothing the Halifax keeper could do about a crisply-struck low drive that went in off the far post.

Always mobile and full of running, Bickerstaff threatened again in the 15th minute with a smart turn inside the area that might have given him a clear sight of goal but for Josh Emmanuel rescuing his side with the timeliest of interventions.

Alty were looking solid all over the pitch, so much so that Caleb Ansen had still to be tested as game passed the half-hour mark.

Indeed, a second Alty goal looked likelier than a Halifax equaliser before half-time, not least when Bickerstaff again troubled the home defence in the 37th minute.

A pass threaded through the narrowest of gaps looked perfect for the overlapping Banks, but the Alty right-back had to stretch as he tried to hook the ball back towards Regan Linney before it crossed the bye-line and it ended up sailing behind for a goal-kick.

Alty had penalty appeals waved away in the 57th minute after a typically pinpoint crossfield ball from Osborne was brought under control by a superb first touch by Linney, who then got his head down and sprinted towards the area from the right touchline.

The Alty striker had Angelo Cappello for company, and when the pair of them went down in a tangle of legs, Linney looked to have a strong case for a spot-kick, only for the referee to wave play on.

Seconds later, the home side were down to 10 men after a 58th-minute challenge by Lewis Leigh, who ploughed through Banks and was shown a straight red card for a reckless foul that left the Alty defender needing treatment before he was able to carry on.

The Robins had been in control for most of the game, and the scoreline began to reflect that after they made it 2-0 with a penalty in the 65th minute.

A volley from 15 yards by Charlie Olson struck a Halifax hand inside the area, and Linney stepped up to beat Savin with a kick that was as cool as you like, as he waited for the keeper to commit to a dive before calmly slotting it home.

The Robins absolutely ripped the Halifax defence to shreds with an outstanding third goal in the 73rd minute.

Newby started it with a lovely piece of footwork to shake off a close marker out on the left near the halfway line, and when space then opened up for him, he made the most of it with a purposeful run deep into Halifax territory.

Looking up and assessing his options, he picked out Lucas Weaver on the right of the area with a sliderule pass that put the Alty substitute in on goal.

Weaver had only been on for a minute or so, but he was already tuned in to what was required as he gave up the shooting opportunity in favour of unselfishly rolling the ball across to his left for Linney to slide in and claim his second of the game.

There was even scope for Olly Crankshaw to go on and get a few valuable minutes of playing time under his belt to put the final seal on the most rewarding afternoon the Robins have had for quite a while.

Halifax Savin; Galvin (Tarima, 83'), Senior (c), Nkrumah (Eze, 77'), Thomas (Emmerson, 83'), Cooke, Cappello (Sutcliffe, 85'), Emmanuel, Jenkins, Pugh (Bray, 66'), Leigh. Subs not used: Ford, Adetoro.

Altrincham Ansen; Banks, Baines (c), Osborne, Marriott (Dolan, 77'), Linney, Newby (Crankshaw, 87'), Wilson, Golden, Bickerstaff (Weaver, 72'), Olson (J.Jones, 81'). Subs not used: Reddin, Randle, Penney.

HT 0-1

Goals None | Bickerstaff 10', Linney 65', 73'

Yellows Nkrumah 41', Cooke 72' | Bickerstaff 24', Marriott 40', Weaver 90'+3

Reds Leigh 58' | None

Referee Ollie Yates

Assistants Grace Lowe & Niall Fenton

Fourth official Robert Claussen

Attendance 1,896 (296 away)

Next Up

We head for Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday for a 3pm kick-off in the Vanarama National League. Get your cheaper advanced tickets for the clash from our hosts here.

Front of shirt sponsors AO are offering FREE coach travel for the game via our friends at Union Golf Road. Click here for info and availability.