Match Report

SUMMARY

Altrincham lifted themselves off the bottom of the table with this deserved win at Boston, where home supporters have yet to witness a league win on a Saturday this season.

Although Boston had more of the first-half attacking momentum, and hit the post through Hilliard, Alty took a 32nd minute lead when Elliott Newby finished well from a smart feed by Nicky Clee.

Boston laboured after the break and were hampered further for the final stages of the game by an injury to Robinson who had to limp on after all three substitutions had been made. ,P> But, above all, it was a good team performance by Altrincham which earned the three points.

• 32 mins: Elliott NEWBY (Boston United 0 ALTRINCHAM 1)

Alty were again without Jake Moult, Shaun Densmore, Sean Miller, Craig Hobson, Tom Hannigan, Tim Deasy and Kyle Brownhill. Micah Evans was also not in the squad.

LINE-UPS:

BOSTON UNITED (Amber and black) 1. Ross Durrant, 2. Kalern Thomas, 3. Jan Yeomans, 4. Harry Vince, 5. Tom Batchelor, 6. Josh Robinson, 7. Adam Chapman (c), 8. Ben Gordon, 9. Alex Simmons, 10. Colby Bishop, 11. Lewis Hilliard, Subs: 12. Marcus Marshall, 14. Shane Clarke, 15. Joe Fitzpatrick, 16. Jay Rollins, 17. Charlie Gatter

ALTRINCHAM (Red & white striped shirts, red shorts and socks) 1. Stuart TOMLINSON, 2. Chris LYNCH (c), 3. Andy McWILLIAMS, 4. Laurence TAYLOR, 5. Sam HEATHCOTE, 6. John CYRUS, 7. Elliott NEWBY, 8. Gary JONES, 9. Simon RICHMAN, 10. James LAWRIE, 11. Nicky CLEE. Subs: 12. Sam PATTERSON, 14. Alan GOODALL, 15. Damian REEVES, 16. Andy OWENS, 20. Andrew JONES

Mike Garnett's data shows previous outcomes in matches between the clubs.

• Home: P34-W16-D12-L7-F71-A33
• Away: P35-W10-D10-F15-57-A64
• All: P70-W26-D22-L22-F128-A97

After a minute's applause for a Boston supporter who had died recently, Simon Richman kicked off the game for Alty. With just 53 seconds having elapsed, a Taylor shot was routinely saved as the visitors landed the first shot on target. Today, Alty were deploying Clee, Newby and Lawrie as their attacking trio.

Tomlinson was soon in action, as he blocked well a shot from Hilliard after a home freekick (4 mins). And, not long afterwards, Cyrus made a good block from Hilliard's shot before also clearing a cross.

Vince's poor challenge on McWilliams saw him escape with a lecture and that reflected a game which was scrappy so far (11 mins). It got no better before Heathcote did well with a clearance, which led to a Lawrie shot being blocked.

Alty then had a close shave from a Boston counter-attack, as Vince hit Tomlinson's left post after a cross from their right (19 mins).

Following a stoppage for treatment to Chapman, a fine Lynch tackle won a goalkick. After briefly resuming, Chapman went down again and hobbled off, to be replaced by Clarke (27 mins).

Boston were doing more of the attacking and, next, Hilliard fired a shot across the face of goal from the Boston left (28 mins). But, overall, it remained a mediocre game on a tricky surface.

The deadlock was broken when a fine ball from Clee up the inside-left channel set Newby free and he finished well with a low shot across the keeper to give Altrincham the lead (32 mins). Boston had not won at home on a Saturday in the league this season and the jinx was continuing.

The goal boosted Alty and, soon, Clee got in a shot but it went well wide from 20+ yards. And the home crowd was getting restless as the Pilgrims sliced the ball into touch with regularity. But Boston did then win a corner on their right but the short corner routine broke down to the home fans' annoyance (40 mins).

After a freekick for a foul on Lawrie, a Newby cross deflected to Richman who, stretching, netted the ball but was flagged offside (44 mins).

So at half-time Alty were off the bottom of the table as Stalybridge were losing to Darlington at the interval.

Three early throw-ins underlined the continuing scrappy nature of the match before Cyrus went down hurt and needed treatment (47 mins).

Tomlinson soon had to block a shot, after a Hilliard feed, prompting the first of three successive corners to the Pilgrims (52 mins).

After Hilliard had fouled Heathcote, the defender needed treatment.

Marcus Marshall, who almost came to Alty a couple of seasons ago on loan from Grimsby, now came on for Gordon (57 mins). Two minutes later Owens replaced Clee, who was harshly booked after leaving the pitch too slowly for the referee's liking.

Mr Dale further annoyed Alty as McWilliams won the ball well but was not only penalised but, as Vince stayed down, the Alty man was booked. After the booking Vince sprang to his feet and trotted off (60 mins).

When Lawrie was clattered near halfway, Yeomans was booked (63 mins) but his side soon gained a corner. Five minutes later Rollins came on for Vince for Boston.

Having just made their last change, Boston's Robinson pulled up holding his hamstring and, when he went down soon afterwards, he had to have strapping applied and was moved forward as a virtual passenger (72 mins). Hilliard remained Boston's liveliest forward and he had a shot pouched by Tomlinson.

When the lively Newby was flattened, Mr Dale played on (74 mins) as Alty remained fairly comfortable with their lead. Owens was doing well in harassing the home defence before Lawrie won a rare Alty corner (80 mins). The Robins threatened again with a Newby cross before Lawrie almost got into the box (83 mins).

Taylor, who had received a knock, gave way to Goodall (84 mins). Richman was then hurt when blocking a ball but play continued till Batchelor was booked for a foul on Newby. Richman had to hobble off and was replaced by Patterson (89 mins).

Five added minutes were played which included a good save by Tomlinson before Newby won a corner on a counter-attack, Next, an Owens shot was blocked (90+3 mins) as Alty held their lead to the final whistle to record a deserved three points which lifted them off the bottom of the table.