Words Ayush Bhattacharjee | Pictures Jonathan Moore

Altrincham 1 Forest Green 2

Alty dropped their second home game in four days despite another encouraging display against Enterprise National League leaders Forest Green Rovers.

The home side nearly struck first blood within the opening five minutes with Olly Crankshaw and Kahrel Reddin combining to find Lewis Banks whose effort narrowly missed the target.

The positive play from Alty continued but Rovers slowly got themselves back into the game, and through Kyle McAllister tested the alertness of Luke Hutchinson, who superbly tipped the winger's effort over the bar.

The Bolton loanee was tested once again soon after when he denied Nick Haughton, before the former Fylde man broke the deadlock in the 27th minute with a stunning free-kick that went in off the post.

The visitors looked to make it two from a fast break in the 31st minute but McAllister
shot wide. Then, within a minute, the Robins were level.

Reddin drove past his man and spread the play to Crankshaw down the left. Alty's number seven in turn fed Tyler Golden in the box, and the full-back's lay-off was emphatically dispatched past Luke McNicholas by Reddin to tie the game.

Alty continued to pressure the away side with Keaton Ward, Lewis Banks and Crankshaw all coming close in the final few minutes of the first half.

The start of the second half followed the same pattern, with Alty piling on the pressure. However, when Golden was booked for a foul on McAllister on the hour, and subsequently dismissed for dissent, the game turned on it's head.

An uphill battle against the league leaders for the remaining 30 minutes ensued, and despite a spirited display with 10 men, coupled with a number of unbelievable saves from man-of-the-match Hutchinson, Alty were ultimately defeat by a corner routine with 15 minutes remaining.

The set piece delivery to the near post by Jayden Clarke was headed home by Ryan Inniss, maintaining Forest Green unbeaten start to the season and leaving Alty with nothing to show for their efforts.

Beeline VIP Travel Man Of The Match Luke Hutchinson

Altrincham Hutchinson; Banks, Baines (c), Osborne (German, 86'), Crankshaw (Gale, 69'), Marriott (Kosylo, 86'), Ward (Reed, 65'), Knowles, Reddin (Kirk, 86'), Golden, Sassi. Subs not used: Cooper, Fallon.

Forest Green McNicholas; Inniss, Mendy, McAllister (Marquez, 75'), Haughton (Bunker, 82'), Knowles, Taylor-Moore (c), Moore (Clarke, 46'), Pemberton (Kengni, 75'), Whitwell, Mitchell (Balagizi, 90'+4). Subs not used: Fiachra, Walker.

HT 1-1

Goals Reddin 31' | Haughton 27', Inniss 75'

Yellows Osborne 59', Golden 61', 62' | Pemberton 72', Mendy 78', Whitwell 78'

Reds Golden 61' | None

Referee Aaron Jackson

Assistants Mark Bates & Neil Evans

Fourth official Alex Beckett

Attendance 1,529 (182 away)

Next Up

We head for Somerset and Huish Park on Saturday afternoon (3pm) to take on Yeovil Town in the Enterprise Natioanl League.

Get your tickets from our hosts here and your Union Golf Road away travel here.