In a match whose importance was not remotely matched by its quality it was a penalty, converted by Regan Linney, which was enough to secure fourth place and a home play-off "eliminator" for Altrincham on Wednesday night against FC Halifax Town.

The goal came in the 43rd minute after Alex Newby had been brought down by Phillips in the left of the box. Before that, Oxford had given a decent account of themselves whilst Altrincham had lacked the zip necessary to create much in the way of a goal threat.

The second half was no better in terms of excitement as Altrincham fairly comfortably contained the visitors, despite Ross having to make an important save from a deflected shot from Greenslade.

Alty's best moment came with a superb freekick from the edge of the "D" by Conn-Clarke which Watson briliantly tipped over the bar (72 mins). Conn-Clarke was also responsible for the worst miss of the game when he shot wide from a Linney feed just after the hour-mark.

SCORERS:

• 43 mins: Regan LINNEY (ALTRINCHAM 1 Oxford City 0)

The injured Donawa was replaced by Newby whilst Max Haygarth came in to the squad on the bench.

For City, Roddy, Coyle Fleet and McEachran came into the starting eleven.

ALTRINCHAM (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts and red socks): 29. Ethan Ross, 2. Lewis Banks, 15. Jake Cooper, 4. Lewis Baines (c), 3. Eddy Jones, 8. Elliot Osborne, 26. Mitch Hancox, 30. Alex Newby, 10. Chris Conn-Clarke, 11. Justin Amaluzor, 9. Regan Linney Subs: 14. Dior Angus, 16. Sam Roscoe, 7. Matty Kosylo, 25. Max Haygarth, 44. Dan Mooney.

OXFORD CITY (Blue and white hoops, blue shorts & socks): 26. Tom Watson, 2. Andre Burley, 3. Giles Phillips, 4. Josh Ashby, 6. Jacob Roddy, 7. Lewis Coyle, 8. Reece Fleet, 10. Zac McEachran, 11. Harvey Greenslade, 16. Alfie Potter, 29. Charlie O'Connell. Subs: 5. NyaKirby, 21. Harry Birtwistle, 22. Tafari Moore, 23. Brooklyn Kabongolo, 30. Ernaldo Krasniqi.

BACKGROUND:

For this final match of the regular season fourth-placed Altrincham were already assured of a play-off place but their finishing position was still to be determined.

There was more certainty for Oxford City as they had been mathematicaly relegated some weeks earlier but they would remain in doubt as to their destination in either the South or the North division.

In bright sunshine, and after a minute's silence for an Oxford City bereavement, Altrincham kicked off towards the unsegregated away end.

The first incident of note was a slightly underhit back-pass from Baines which Ross had to hurry to boot clear (1 min). Alty had the better of the opening stages without creating very much. But when Amaluzor won the ball and raced up the right he fed Conn-Clarke who elected not to shoot but, instead, mis-passed the ball. However, a home corner soon resulted (8 mins) albeit to no effect.

It was Ethan Ross who was the first keeper in action as he saved a Reece shot from the left byline, albeit seemingly being "winded" in the process and needing a couple of minutes to recover afterwards (11 mins).

City now enjoyed some possession but when Amaluzor made an interception and outpaced the defence to feed Conn-Clarke, Alty's number ten disappointingly lost the ball (16 mins). Alty's improvement continued as Amaluzor again advanced on the right to feed Conn-Clarke whose shot found the side-netting from right of goal (20 mins).

Whilst goalkeeper Watson received treatment the teams took a drinks' break with several City players taking the opportunity to strip off a layer of upper-body clothing on what was a warm afternoon for the time of year (22 mins).

Although Alty were having the better of things, Phil Parkinson was finding it necessary to be more vocal than usual as his side continued to misfire. At the other end Ashby got in a 30-yard shot which deflected off Potter to Ross (25 mins).

Next, Linney did well on the left, only for Newby to complete the move by firing over the bar (26 mins). In keeping with the mediocre fare on the pitch the supporters were also quiet at this stage. Symptomatic of the afternoon was the form of Conn-Clarke who for the third time now failed to make the right decision as he got into the box.

It got a little better when Linney fed Newby, whose low shot forced a routine save (34 mins). Belatedly Conn-Clarke came to life as Newby advanced on the left leading to a fine shot from 20 yards by the Northern Irishman which keeper Watson did well to tip over the bar, but from the resulting corner Conn-Clarke fired miles over the bar (39 mins).

As the interval approached, Newby was played into the box on the left and was unceremoniously brought down by Phillips. Linney converted the penalty comfortably to give Altrincham the lead (43 mins).

Five added minutes did not change the score at the end of a first half which had failed to reach the heights.

Oxford started the second half promisingly as Ashby got forward and rolled a ball across the goalmouth which went unconverted (48 mins). Then an error by Eddy Jones allowed the visitors into the box but nothing came of the incursion (51 mins).

O'Connell soon picked up a booking for a foul on Conn-Clarke (53 mins). However City continued to look the brighter as Greenside was played in and forced Ross to beat the ball out before gathering it in his hands (56 mins). Meanwhile Alty continued to look pedestrian as they played the ball around to no real effect before Ross Jenkins sent on Kirby to replace Potter (58 mins).

Ethan Ross had to make an important save, on the hour mark, as Burley's cross led to a deflected Ashby shot which the keeper had to smartly turn round his right upright, low down. The resulting corner came to nothing.

Alty should have wrapped up the game soon afterwards as Linney burst forward up the middle from his own half before playing the ball inside to the unmarked Conn-Clarke. He seemed certain to score but put the shot badly wide of the keeper's right upright (62 mins).

Now Mooney replaced Amaluzor (65 mins) but the change had litttle efect in instilling more urgency into Altrincham's attacks. Krasniqi then replaced the visitors' captain, Fleet (70 mins) before Linney won a freekick on the "D" in a central position. Taken by Conn-Clarke the freekick was arrowing towards the top corner before Watson made a magnificent save, to his left, to tip the ball over the bar (72 mins)

Immediately Kosylo and Angus came on to replace Conn-Clarke and Linney, a move which was presumably with the midweek play-off in mind (73 mins).

Play drifted on with Alty content to play the ball around without any real penetration before Moore replaced MacEachran for the visitors (82 mins).

Banks won Alty a corner from which Osborne hit a shot miles over the bar (87 mins). As Oxford sat back without any real attacking intent, Kosylo won a 90th minute corner. Five added minutes belatedly saw the Hoops get forward but there was no serious threat of an equaliser.

Alty had recorded their fourth successive clean sheets and had ensured a fourth-placed finish and a home play-off eliminator but, in terms of performance, they will need to be a lot sharper when the Shaymen are in town next Wednesday evening.