Altrincham, without suspended top scorer Regan Linney, saw their five-game ubeaten league run come to a very disappointing end in poor conditions at Aldershot.

Having started the better fo the two sides, Altrincham conceded twice in four minutes.

First, Akpan's delivery from the right was converted by Henry at the back post (26 mins). Then, the same player made it 2-0 when a James Jones clearance rebounded off Henry's chest and he went on to beat Ross (30 mins).

Altrincham's cause was not helped by Tom Crawford's second red card of the season, for two yellow cards (78 mins). But despite barely threatening the opposition goal, Altrincham managed to score in the ninetieth minute when substitute Jake Bickerstaff netted his first goal for the club from a headed assist by Osborne.

However, Aldershot rode out five added minutes and the game ended 2-1 for the Shots.

SCORERS:

• 26 mins: James HENRY (Aldershot Town 1 ALTRINCHAM 0)
• 30 mins: James HENRY (Aldershot Town ALTRINCHAM 0)
• 90 mins: Jake BICKERSTAFF (Aldershot Town 2 ALTRINCHAM 1)

Altrincham made two changes from the side that beat Southend. Goalkeeper Ethan Ross returned, after illness, and midfielder George Wilson came in to replace the suspended striker, Regan Linney.

Ross's stand-in last week, Harvey Randle, was not available after suffering an injury in midweek, so Academy keeper Louie Fallon came in on the bench.

One other change on the bench saw Liam Humbles (right) replace Justin Donawa.

For The Shots, out went Maghoma and Tetek as Hargreaves and Ellison started instead.

ALDERSHOT TOWN (Red and blue shirts, red shorts and socks): 28. Marcus Dewhurst, 25. Rollin Menayese, 7. Cameron Hargreaves 18. Olly Scott, 21. Ashley Akpan, 27. James Henry, 6. Theo Widdrington (c), 11. Ryan Jones, 10. Josh Barrett, 22. Jack Barham, 35. Dan Ellison. Subs: 2. Lachlan Byrd, 9. Kai Corbett, 8. Tyler Frost, 23. Hady Ghandour, 24. Maxwell Mullins, 16. Pat Nash, 34. Dejan Tetek.

ALTRINCHAM (Aquamarine shirts and socks, white shorts): 1. Ethan ROSS, 2. Lewis BANKS, 16. James JONES, 4. Lewis BAINES (c), 3. Eddy JONES, 22. Tom CRAWFORD, 6. Elliot OSBORNE, 19. George WILSON, 14. Matty KOSYLO, 10. Alex NEWBY, 24. Joe NUTTALL. Subs: 5. Jake COOPER, 8. Isaac MARRIOTT, 15. Liam HUMBLES, 20. Kharel REDDIN, 29. Jake BICKERSTAFF, 23. Tylor GOLDEN, 27. Louie FALLON (gk)

Altrincham were unbeaten in five league outings but had lost 0-4 in midweek against a Manchester United PL2 side in the NL Cup. However, they had not fielded a first-choice eleven to start that game.

At kick-off Aldershot were winless in their five most recent games in the league and FA Cup and were lying eighteenth, just a point above the bottom four in the National League.

As Storm Bert battered the UK, like much of the nation, Aldershot suffered heavy rain and strong winds for the visit of Altrincham.

Without setting the pulse racing, but with the wind broadly behind them, Altrincham enjoyed the better of the opening stages but it was not until the fourteenth minute that the visitors landed a shot on target. However, Nuttall;s shot was comfortably saved by Dewhurst.

After Akpan had set up a chance for Barham, the latter went down, appealing for a penalty against James Jones, which was met by a yellow card for the plaintiff (17 mins).

The hosts were soon granted a corner, however, off Baines (19 mins). Following their slow start, the Shots began to improve and, after Henry got forward, it took a timely challenge from Baines to prevent Barrett threatening goal (22 mins).

At the other end a left-foot, well-struck shot from Banks went narrowly wide from 25 yards (25 mins).

But then, out of the blue, Aldershot took the lead as Akpan delivered a low cross from the right which 35 year-old Henry netted in the centre of the goalmouth, at close range, as Ross stayed on his line (26 mins).

Kosylo responded to the setback by earning a corner (29 mins). Following this, the Shots broke forward smartly only for James Jones to make a clearancegoal. But the ball rebounded off Henry's chest, putting the leading scorer in on a run at goal and he beat the exposed Ross to record a second Aldershot goal just four minutes after their opener (30 mins).

Ross's appeals for hands against Henry went unheeded.

Scott was then booked for Aldershot after a foul on Crawford before play was halted after a clash of heads between Nuttall and Ellison (35 mins). Both eventually resumed.

Soon afterwards Ellison mis-headed an attempt at goal before Henry became the third home player to be booked, in his case for a foul on Osborne (40 mins).

As half-time approached Kosylo cut in and his shot earned a corner (52 mins). Soon, they had another corner when a Newby effort was deflected by Widdrington (43 mins).

Three added minutes were played before half-time which left the score 2-0 to the hosts.

Tetek replaced Ellison for the second half with Widdrington moving into the back line. Driving rain was not helping the game achieve any level of good quality with passing accurately becoming difficult, especially in the visitors' case as they played into the wind and rain.

The Shots soon went close with Barrett's shot over the bar (50 mins). Then Henry's header from an Akpan cross failed to hit the target (52 mins).

Arguably Alty's best chance to date fell to Newby who made a poor attempt to chip the keeper from an Osborne feed (54 mins).

Kosylo was then fortunate to avoid a card for a challenge on Scott. On the hour, Reddin replaced Wilson who had struggled to come to terms with the conditions.

Next, following a home corner a stretching Baines had to make an important clearance as the hosts remained on top.

Alty made a second change when Bickerstaff replaced Nuttall (66 mins) as the heavens opened even more intensely. Barrett became the fourth home player to be booked just before Marriott replaced the volatile Kosylo (69 mins).

Aldershot continued to be comfortable with their lead before Frost replaced Henry (75 mins). Three minutes later the already booked Crawford saw yellow for the second time after a clear foul, earning his second red card of the season, which will rule him out for two games (78 mins). The Alty midfielder was already walking to the changing rooms before the referee could show his yellow and red cards.

Hearts were in mouths as James Jones then committed what looked like a foul but the referee played on.

The Shots made a double change with Mullins and Ghandour replacing Barrett and Barham (83 mins). Another home corner came and went before a back-tracking Newby stemmed another Aldershot incursion (89 mins).

But then Altrincham grabbed a lifeline as Osborne's glancing header from the right fed Bickerstaff who broke his duck by making it 2-1 as he rolled the ball past the keeper from the outer reaches of the box, right of goal (90 mins).

Five added minutes were negotiated without undue alarm by Aldershot as they deservedly ended the visitors' five-game unbeaten run in the National League. Without Regan Linney, Altrincham had posed little threat to the home goal and, whilst he should return for Tuesday's game against league leaders York City, the Robins will now be without midfield lynchpin Tom Crawford.