Match Report

Crawley kicked off and in barely 90 seconds had taken the lead. The goal came when Malcolm crossed from the right and, what should have been a routine catch for goalkeeper Ralph turned into disaster as he caught the ball but collided with Smith, dropping it in the process. Former Halifax man, Lewis Killeen drove the loose ball into the net. But Alty could so easily have levelled almost immediately as another ex-Halifax man, Chris Senior was put free behind the home defence but he shot straight at goalkeeper Rayner. However, Crawley soon won a corner (5 mins) and had the better of the next few minutes before yet another ex-Shayman, Greg Young fed Lee Elam, who won Altrincham's first corner (9 mins).

But, soon Ralph had to save well, with Smith completing the clearance after Ralph had beaten a shot out. Referee Thompson was proving to be a complete contrast to the previous week's Alty-match official with his jovial demeanour and sound decision making proving an impressive combination. When another Halifax old-boy, Jake Wright, caught Senior, his former team-mate very late, he was rightly booked (16 mins). And as the ex-Halifax Town theme continued, Matt Doughty's freekick was deflected by a defender, but Rayner saved it. Crawley responded by winning a corner which Doughty cleared but Alty had no one upfield to receive the ball. "You're playing like a bunch of girls", Graham Heathcote told his team as Crawley continued to dominate, with their probes coming predominantly up the right flank. Indeed, two home corners came and went before Senior fed Danylyk at the other end but the midfielder's shot went narrowly wide (22 mins).

Rayner, the former Torquay keeper, then mis-kicked a clearance for the second time in the game before Malcolm wasted a chance for the Reds as he fired badly over the bar from close range (26 mins). But Alty gave away a second goal soon afterwards when Ralph missed Malcolm's cross from the Crawley right, allowing Cook to slot the ball home off Ralph's left upright from a very acute angle, left of goal (28 mins). Bulman then made the most of a late challenge by Peyton, with Alty's midfielder receiving a yellow card (31 mins).

Crawley continued to have the better of play, but without seriously threatening. However, Crawley manager Evans provided some entertainment as he berated the fourth official following an offside decision against Malcolm (39 mins). Soon, Crawley made it three-nil, a goal which came after Cook had done well, only for Young to make a fine clearing tackle. But the ball ran loose from Young's block to the incoming Pinault, who lashed it into the net from 18 yards (43 mins). Alty had now conceded 7 goals in just 103 minutes of play in their last two games. Nevertheless, Altrincham now had their own third clear sight of goal but, when Elam crossed from the right, Little failed to make contact and Doughty lashed the loose ball wide (44 mins). After two added minutes, the interval arrived with Alty three goals adrift.

Alty almost scored from the kick-off, their fourth wasted chance of the afternoon. It came as Senior advanced up the middle, feeding Little, who screwed his shot wide, right of goal, and Elam, at the back post, was unable to turn it in. Crawley now won two successive corners before Pittman replaced Cook (47 mins). The game now went through a poor period before Wilson fired well wide for Town (53 mins). Peyton then drove two successive 25-yard freekicks at defenders before Elam won an Alty corner, sandwiched by two from Crawley. The second of these Crawley corners came from a fine covering tackle by Danylyk and, from the flag-kick, Young had to head Quinn's header off the line (61 mins). Soon, McGregor, an ever-present this season was replaced by Meechan, presumably through injury. Lane assumed the captaincy (62 mins).

Next, Elam's cross produced a corner but overall the game was now pretty flat. Elam looked as lively as anyone for Alty but his next run was undone by a poor cross (69 mins). However, just after a Crawley corner, Johnson replaced Elam for the Robins (70 mins). Defender Giles then headed a Killeen cross over the bar before Alty spurned their fifth presentable chance when Johnson chested the ball down neatly for Senior, who shot wide (72 mins). Each side now made a change; Fletcher was the replacement for Killeen for Crawley and Joe O'Neill came on for the out of sorts Little up front for Alty (76 mins). Alty now briefly threatened as Johnson fed Doughty but the defender's cross from the left was poor. Ralph then had to save smartly from Malcolm (80 mins) before Giles headed a freekick back across goal, and Fletcher headed the ball over the bar (85 mins).

Play went into three added minutes and in the last of these Young slipped, inside the left of the Alty box near the by-line, allowing Pittman to get past him. The defender tripped his opponent, to concede a clear penalty. Ralph saved Pittman's spot-kick superbly, to his left, beating the ball out. But Crawley retained possession, allowing Rankin to put in a great cross from the right, which Pittman headed firmly home (90+4 mins). As play restarted, the final whistle sounded to end Alty's suffering.

After a run of five wins and a draw in six games, Alty have now lost four of their last six league games, scoring just four times whilst conceding twelve. Given that Altrincham's available squad is currently so small, it will be largely up to those same players who played today to turn the form around at Barrow next Tuesday. With the defence making errors, the strikers not taking chances and the midfield failing to sparkle, there is room for improvement in all departments.