Match Report

REFEREE: Mr Seb Stockbridge

ATTENDANCE: 4,311 (91 in away end)

With Stuart Coburn, Anthony Danylyk and Steve Connors now out till the end of the season, and both Chris Denham and Jon Bateson also sidelined, Alty had to call up youth teamers Sam Langford and James Smart to their squad today. Ryan Brown and James Smith both started but Alty had no keeper on the bench. Youth keeper Adam Reid was here helping with Dootson's warm-up but was not registered to play.

Grimsby gave a home debut to youth defender Charlie I'Anson but made three changes from last Saturday. Dwayne Samuels replaced Peter Bore in defence, Mark Hudson came in for AndI Thanoj in midfield and Lee Peacock took over from Rob Duffy in attack.

BACKGROUND:

The reverse fixture this season ended 2-2.

Altrincham had to win to retain any hope of staying up this season.

LINE-UPS

GRIMSBY TOWN (Black and white striped shirts, black shorts, red socks) 1. Kenny Arthur; 6. Scott Garner, 33. Charlie I' Anson, 19. Bradley Wood; 8. Micky Cummins, 14. Michael Leary; 11. Michael Coulson, 17. Alan Connell, 15. Dwayne Samuels, 4. Mark Hudson, 10. Lee Peacock, Subs: 32. Dayle Southwell, 12. Rob Duffy, 25. Rob Atkinson, 29. Robert Eagle, 31. Sam Mulready,

ALTRINCHAM (All White): 30. Craig DOOTSON, 2. James SMITH, 4. Marc JOSEPH, 5. Rob WILLIAMS, 26. Carl PIERGIANNI, 6. Shaun DENSMORE, 7. Robbie LAWTON (capt), 15. Ryan BROWN, 11. Nicky CLEE, 8. Damian REEVES, 14. Dale JOHNSON, Subs: 19. Mark BEESLEY, 9. Michael TWISS, 17. Wes BAYNES, 25. Sam LANGFORD, 27. James SMART

REPORT

Altrincham started very well and, despite Grimsby kicking off, Alty almost scored after 15 seconds when a desperate interception took the ball off Reeves's toe as he was about to score following good work from Johnson. A corner resulted

Alty's good start continued as a Clee throw led to a Joseph shot being blocked but the ball was played back in to Reeves who netted from close range, only to have the effort ruled out for offside (4 mins). In the 9th minute, Alty were almost caught out by a fluke situation. A clearance cannoned off a Gimsby player and looped back towards the Alty goal, but Dootson scrambled back and managed to keep it out, despite slipping in the process.

Both sides were making errors but Alty were making more of the running as they won another corner, which Densmore overhit from the right (15 mins). When Johnson was felled soon afterwards, Densmore's freekick curled over the Town bar (18 mins). Another Alty corner soon followed, which Densmore played short to Clee, who chipped his shot over the bar (22 mins).

After a spell of errors from both sides, lacklustre Grimsby won their first corner (28 mins). Two minutes later they wasted a chance with a shot scooped wide of the Alty goal. Dale Johnson them missed a glorious chance when Reeves and Clee combined well but Johnson managed to lift his shot over the bar from barely six feet out (33 mins).

Two more Alty corners soon followed as the visitors made the running; the first was taken off Joseph's head by the keeper and the second was caught by Arthur (34 mins). Grimsby then headed over from a corner of their own but, as half time approached a fine shot from Joseph following an Alty throw forced a good tip over the bar by Arthur for another corner to the visitors (41 mins).

Johnson, who was frequently held by Garner at dead ball situations, was flattened twice before the interval but Mr Stockbridge kept his card in his pocket. Half time arrived with Alty the more disappointed of the two sides at the goalless first half in which they had been the better side but, once again, had lacked the killer punch in front of goal.

After a fairly unremarkable five minutes, Altrincham won another corner when a good shot from Johnson, following build-up play by Joseph and Reeves, was put out of play. From the right, Brown's well taken corner was met towards the back post by Marc Joseph, who headed the ball unerringly into the net to the delight of the vocal away support at the other end of the ground.

Coulson fired over at the Alty end a couple of minutes later but, as the game passed the hour mark, Grimsby made a change with Eagle replacing Hudson (61 mins). Town now got forward and won a corner as Dootson did well to tip Cummins's effort over the bar, at which point Garner had to go off briefly for a blood injury.

Alty remained on the back foot but the whole team worked hard to keep Grimsby from further testing Dootson. A skirmish then saw Densmore and Wood booked (76 mins) as Baynes came on for Reeves. Two minutes later Rob Duffy was introduced by Grimsby in place of the bleached Peacock (78 mins).

Alty remained on the back foot and Grimsby won a corner (83 mins). This was taken badly, the ball going straight to Baynes at the near post. He failed to show the necessary urgency in clearing the ball and lost possession and it took a desperate clearance off the line by Dootson to keep Grimsby out.

Next, Twiss came on for Johnson (84 mins) before Town also made a change, with Leary going off and Mulready coming on. The changes continued as Nicky Clee was replaced by Mark Beesley for Altrincham (88 mins). A fine tackle from Marc Joseph, Alty's man of the match, saw off a late goalmouth threat (90 minS), before the game went into three added minutes. Twiss was harshly booked when conceding an unnecessary foul on the Alty left touchline (90+1 mins) but Altrincham held on for a deserved win which keeps their survival hopes alive.

With three teams two points above them, Alty's poor goal difference effectively means that they have to win on Saturday and that any two of FGR, Tamworth and Southport have to lose for the Robins to survive. As the first two of these clubs play each other it could be a very interesting afternoon at Moss Lane against Eastbourne.