Match Report

REFEREE: Mr R L Metcalfe

ATTENDANCE: 2,554 (306 in away end)

Midfielder Anthony Danylyk returned after suspension but Robbie Lawton was playing his last game before his two-match ban started. Dale Johnson returned to the starting line up, with Mark McGregor and the injured Shaun Densmore (hamstring) dropping out. The former was on the bench, however, against his former club. Wrexham's Faroese keeper Neilsen had broken a bone in his hand on Saturday so Chris Maxwell came in to the side, which also showed two other changes from its defeat by Oxford on Saturday. Winger Wes Baynes and striker Obi Anoruo were the new players in the starting line-up.

BACKGROUND:

Altrincham were still in need of a few more points to ensure survival but had won just once in their last 15 games. But Wrexham were just one place above them in the form guide over the last six matches after falling short of their aim to reach the play-offs.

LINE-UPS

WREXHAM (Red shirts, white shorts and red socks): 27. Chris MAXWELL, 5. Aurelien COLLIN, 29. Ashley WESTWOOD, 33. Mansour ASSOUMANI, 16. Silvio SPANN, 25. Andrew CROFTS, 19. Andrew FLEMING, 39. Ryan FLYNN, 38. Sam WILLIAMSON, 31. Obi ANORUO, 7. Wes BAYNES. SUBS: 11. Neil TAYLOR, 36. Nathan FAIRHURST, 18. Michael PROCTOR, 20. Jamie McCLUSKEY, 40. Jon BROWN.

ALTRINCHAM (Yellow shirts, blue shorts and yellow socks): 1. Stuart COBURN, 22. James SMITH, 5. Greg YOUNG, 18. Michael WELCH, 2.Chris LANE; 17. Ben WILKINSON, 16. Anthony DANYLYK, 7. Robbie LAWTON, 3. Matt DOUGHTY, 9. Colin LITTLE, 14. Dale JOHNSON. SUBS: 4. Mark McGREGOR, 10. Chris DENHAM, 12. Joe O'NEILL, 23. Richard ACTON, 26. Rod THORNLEY.

Roared on by a strong away following, Alty kicked off, defending the Mold end. Wrexham won a corner after 80 seconds but Altrincham soon enjoyed some time in the Wrexham half, winning a couple of throws on the left. Johnson was working hard up front whilst Doughty was looking to get forward at every opportunity. Following a second Wrexham corner, Young was temporarily hurt. But then Altrincham won two corners in as many minutes (13 mins) before the Dragons gained their third flag-kick of the match (15 mins). From Baynes's corner, Johnson cleared a goalbound header from Crofts off the line by Coburn’s left stick, leading to another corner. Whilst the visitors were having more of the attacking play they were not looking particularly penetrative.

Alty continued to match their opponents and, after treatment for Young following a collision with Maxwell, Johnson did well, holding off a challenge, to get in a shot which Maxwell saved (23 mins). The non-stop singing from the 300 plus Altrincham fans - reportedly the largest away contingent at the Racecourse this season - urged their team on with Johnson now getting in a couple of long throws. Altrincham now continued to press and Wilkinson soon got in a cross from the right but neither side was creating any clear chances as the game passed the half-hour mark.

Chris Lane became the first player to be booked when he came across the path of Anorou as he threatened to get into the box (33 mins). Wrexham threatened when Flynn got past Welch and from his pass Anorou fired across goal and just over the back post (35 mins). Alty replied with an attack of their own which Wrexham's defence managed to hack clear at the second attempt. As half time approached Smith was unlucky to see a clearance rebound to a Wrexham player and it took a fine stretching tackle from Young to see off the danger at the cost of a corner (43 mins). A minute of added time failed to disturb the goalless score line of a half in which Altrincham had been reasonably comfortable in keeping the Welsh side at bay.

It was now a warm and sunny afternoon which should have favoured the full-timers of Wrexham as they kicked off the second half. A bad challenge from Williamson gave Alty an early freekick but the referee declined to produce the yellow card that the challenge deserved (46 mins). Altrincham almost went ahead in the 48th minute when Doughty again got up the left and got the better of Westwood before feeding Johnson. The tall striker turned and advanced diagonally from the left into the box before firing in a firm shot which Maxwell held at the second attempt.

Soon afterwards Alty won a freekick just inside the Wrexham half to the right of goal. Chris Lane aimed the kick towards the near post and the ball was allowed to bounce in the box before Collin, retreating towards his own goal, rose to head the ball into the Wrexham net (52 mins). Presumably the French ex-Gretna, Mallorca and Panserraikos (Greece) central defender was trying to head it over the bar but, under little pressure, he failed dismally to do so. It was the first own goal from which Altrincham have benefited this season but not the first own goal by Collin, who had previously found his own net playing for Gretna at Ibrox in 2007.

As so often happens, the side which has just conceded, almost scored, as Collin got to the other end and won a corner when his shot was deflected to the left of goal (53 mins). But Altrincham recovered to win a corner from Lane's cross before the end to end play continued and Welch had to make a great block as Wrexham seemed about to score (55 mins). But then Maxwell had to dribble the ball away coolly from an Altrincham attacker. At this point, Wrexham brought on Proctor for Spann (57 mins).

Next, Collin's afternoon got worse as he was booked for a foul on Johnson (59 mins). Five minutes passed fairly uneventfully before Dean Saunders made his second swap, bringing on McCluskey for right-winger Baynes (61 mins). Young and then Danylyk broke up the next two probes from Wrexham before a mix up between Young and Coburn almost let Wrexham in. Coburn came for a back header but Young only got a gentle touch on the ball and as a Wrexham player lobbed the ball over the stranded Alty keeper, James Smith cleared off the line (65 mins).

Wrexham made another change after 67 minutes when Williamson gave way to Taylor. Soon Wrexham won two successive corners as Alty were kept back in their own half and were reliant on playing on the break. A third Wrexham corner followed soon afterwards before Altrincham made a double substitution.

Strikers Chris Denham and Rod Thornley came on for Little and Johnson (74 mins). Almost immediately Denham won a corner on the right near the corner flag. But Altrincham continued to keep out Wrexham's attempts to create an opening. After they had won another corner, Rod Thornley's afternoon ended as he was replaced by Joe O'Neill, just four minutes after coming on. It is believed Rod had a hamstring problem, of which there seems to be an epidemic at Moss Lane currently (78 mins). Denham almost got a toe-end on a wayward back pass but it just evaded him and ran to the keeper. When Doughty then advanced up the left and got into the box, he appeared to be obstructed but Mr Metcalfe thought otherwise (80 mins).

Stuart Coburn then had to make an excellent save blocking McCluskey's fierce shot from the right before Denham was blocked as he threatened inside the Wrexham box by Assoumani. Having got away with what should have been a penalty award the Mali international and former Leeds defender inexplicably nutted Chris Denham off the ball. The assistant referee, standing close by, called the ref's attention to the incident and the central defender was quite rightly sent off (85 mins). Moments later Denham was again on the receiving end of a nasty foul as Westwood flattened him and the Wrexham captain was booked (86 mins).

The tannoy then amazingly announced the Wrexham Man of the Match as being Collin, the scorer of the own goal which had cost his side the game. On the other hand, he might well have been the Alty supporters' nominee. As the game went into four added minutes, Anthony Danylyk picked up his fifth yellow is as many games - including the two in one match, also in added time, which got him dismissed at Lewes recently (90+2 mins).

The extra-man advantage that Altrincham enjoyed was not evident as Wrexham pushed for an equalizer but Altrincham defended competently to keep their full-time opponents at bay as the visiting fans serenaded the Racecourse with chants of "We only train on a Thursday". The final whistle prompted scenes of great jubilation both on the pitch and in the visiting supporters' enclosure. Chris Lane and Stuart Coburn led the players' celebrations as Altrincham celebrated almost certain survival in this division for another season. The club has waited four years to reach the end of a Conference season without having to go into the final days of the season desperate for points and the joy at having done so was abundant. A point or more against Grays on Saturday will make absolutely certain of survival but, to all intents and purposes, the decimated squad had achieved a magnificent outcome to the season.