In a match of relatively little goalmouth excitement but plenty of endeavour, a tenth-minute trademark goal by Regan Linney separated the sides. Alty went up two places to sixth whilst Sutton dropped four places to eleventh.

Sutton started the game well before Linney drove infield from the left and hit a low shot across the keeper into the far corner of the net to make it 1-0.

Though play was largely end to end the keepers had relatively little to do, with Sims was the busier of the two.

SCORERS:

• 10 mins: Regan LINNEY (ALTRINCHAM 1 Sutton United 0)

Altrincham went into the match with six first-teamers having missed the midweek draw at Wealdstone through injury or illness. They were Joe Nuttall, Justin Amaluzor, Eddy Jones, James Jones, Max Haygarth and Ollie Crankshaw.

All six were again missing today.

Alty made three changes to their starters as Osborne, Kosylo and Wilson replaced Marriott, Humbles and Bickerstaff.

For Sutton, Davies returned and Sivi also started whilst Odelusi and Jackson moved to the bench.

ALTRINCHAM (Red & white striped shirts, black shorts, white socks): 1. Ethan ROSS, 2. Lewis BANKS, 4. Lewis BAINES 31. Charlie OLSON, 23. Tylor GOLDEN, 19. George WILSON, 6. Elliot OSBORNE, 22. Tom CRAWFORD, 14. Matty KOSYLO, 10. Alex NEWBY, 9. Regan LINNEY Subs: 5. Jake COOPER, 8. Isaac MARRIOTT, 15. Liam HUMBLES, 17. Luke WEAVER, 20. Kahrel REDDIN, 29. Jake BICKERSTAFF, 30 Harvey RANDLE (gk).

SUTTON UNITED (All yellow) 1. Jack Sims, 18. Charlie Waller, 4. Tyler French (c), 15. Hayden Muller, 20. Jack Wadham, 8. Lewis Simper, 24. Ashley Nadesan, 14. Finley Barbrook, 19. Jeremy Sivi, 33. Besart Topallaj. Subs: 3. Chinwike Okoli, 5. Harry Ransom, 6. Siju Odelusi, 12. Eduino Vaz, 29 Sam Roberts (gk), 17. Nana Boateng 22. Ryan Jackson

For the first time in more than 24 years spectators at the J. Davidson Stadium could welcome visitors Sutton United to face Altrincham. Their only meeting at Moss Lane since 2000 had been a Behind Closed Doors trouncing, 0-4 in 2021.

And when the clubs met earlier this season at Gander Green Lane, it was another drubbling for Altrincham as they lost 5-0.

Despite that result the teams met today just a point and a single place apart in the league, with the visitors eighth and Alty ninth.

REPORT:

Sutton kicked off towards the Golf Road end. After Muller had fouled Linney to concede an early freekick, French had to head the ball off the line (2 mins).

However, the visitors then enjoyed a good spell and won the game's first corner (4 mins). From this Barbrook had a free header but the ball hit a defender and was cleared.

Soon afterwards, Kosylo tripped Topallaj near half-way. Simper's freekick led to a Barbrook volley which was blocked (6 mins)

After Tyler had complained to the referee, Mr Mather cautioned Davies for his challenge (7 mins).

Having weathered the early Sutton momentum, Altrincham moved the ball up the left to Linney. He drifted in and fired a trademark low, right-footed shot across the keeper into the far corner of the net to give Altrincham a 1-0 lead (10 mins).

It nearly got worse for Sutton when their keeper, Sims, was caught well out of his goal but, from 30 yards out or so, Crawford could not get his shot past the retreating custodian (14 mins). And, moments later, Newby got to the left bye-line but his cut-back failed to find a team-mate (15 mins).

The game descended into a more scrappy affair after its brighter opening before Kosylo received a talking-to from the referee after a skirmish with Waller (21 mins).

Following a foul by Olson on Davies, Simper's freekick was met by Muller's header over the bar (23 mins).

Next, a fine long ball by Banks set Kosylo running to the right bye-line, from where he laid the ball inside to the oncoming Wilson, whose well-struck shot won a corner.

Topallaj's very high boot towards Kosylo's head gave Alty a freekick which Osborne laid short to his left where Newby miskicked his shot badly wide (26 mins). And another miscue soon followed when an Alty corner, taken by Newby, was met towards the near post by Linney who skied his effort well off-target (28 mins).

Wilson was having a fine game and he now back-tracked to halt a Waller run (33 mins).

A late challenge by Olson on Wadham earned the Blackburn loanee a yellow card (35 mins). As play headed towards the break it became more scrappy with a late Sutton corner the only event of note (44 mins).

Two added minutes made no change to the scoreline before the half-time break.

The second half did not start any more excitingly with Sutton gaining five successive inconsequential throw=ins within a few yards of each other, towards the corner flag on their right wing (47 mins).

An Alty corner came and went but little else of note ocurred before Sutton brought on Boateng for Sivi (58 mins).

But then came two Alty shots on target as, first, Crawford forced a save from Sims (59 mins) and then Linney obliged the keeper to push away his effort (61 mins).

At the other end, Sutton failed to test Ross as Simper skied a shot from 18 yards.

Soon afterwards, Newby lost possession and then fouled his opponent to earn a booking (63 mins). And then Linney, likewise, picked up a yellow card for a foul on French (65 mins).

On 69 minutes, Marriott replaced Osborne in midfield. Following an Alty corner, won by Linney, Wilson produced a well-hit shot which needed a save (72 mins).

Two shots in quick succession by Sutton were blocked by resolute defending (75 mins) before Wilson became Alty's fourth player to be booked for tugging an opponent (79 mins).

Alty were now on the back foot, bringing all their outfield players back, which meant that they had no upfield outlet.

After French had been booked (84 mins), Alty made a change as Reddin replaced Newby (85 mins) whilst Odelusi came on for Wadham at the same time.

Newby won a brief respite for his side by gaining a corner but the visitors continued to get forward but without getting the better of a solid Alty defence. Five added minutes were decreed and Phil Parkisnon used them to get two more substitutes onto the pitch.

Bickerstaff replaced Linney (90+2 mins) and then Weaver came on for Newby (90+3 mins). Kosylo was selected as Man of the Match but Wilson would have been a justifiable alternative.

The win lifted Altrincham into the play-off places (6th) while Sutton dropped four places to eleventh.