With seven players out injured and another man ill, Altrincham had a handful of half-chances but fell behind after 26 minutes when Olson lost the ball and Maguire got the better of Baines to score.

The visitors rarely threatened the home goal in the second half as they slid to another disappointing defeat in the run-in. Despite securing just eight of the last 33 points available, Altrincham remarkably remain in eighth place.

SCORERS:

• 26 mins: Frankie MAGUIRE (Boston United 1 ALTRINCHAM 0)

REFEREE: Mr Jason Richardson

ATTENDANCE: 2,320 (137 in away section)

TEAM NEWS:

Alty brought back Alex Newby to start, replacing Justin Amaluzor, who was not in the squad at all today, having been ill in midweek.

On the bench James Jones and George Wilson returned after injury.

Loanee Brandon Powell dropped out of the squad which was also lacking the injured Cooper, Ross, Lainton, Crankshaw, Eddy Jones, Nuttall and Bickerstaff

Facing Alty, in an unchanged Boston squad, was defender Connor Teale who had played twice for Altrincham earlier in the season.

LINE-UPS:

BOSTON UNITED (Amber and black striped shirts, black shorts, amber socks): 1. Cameron Gregory, 14. Connor Teale, 23. Zak Mills (c), 17. Brad Nicholson, 12. Jai Rowe, 19. Jordan Richards, 21. Greg Sloggett, 3. Cameron Green, 24. Dylan Hill, 22. Frankie Maguire, 9. Jacob Hazel. Subs: 10. Adam Marriott, 11. Noah Wadsworth, 20. Olly Green, 30. Jake Lovelace (gk), 39. James Gale, 7. Keaton Ward, 27. Jacob Scott.

ALTRINCHAM (Aquamarine shirts and socks, white shorts): 21. Caleb ANSEN (gk), 2. Lewis BANKS, 31. Charlie OLSON, 4. Lewis BAINES (c), 23. Tylor GOLDEN, 6. Elliot OSBORNE, 22. Tom CRAWFORD, 14. Matty KOSYLO, 77. Callum DOLAN, 10. Alex NEWBY, 9. Regan LINNEY. Subs: 8. Isaac MARRIOTT, 17. Lucas WEAVER, 19. George WILSON, 16. James JONES, 20. Kahrel REDDIN, 30. Harvey RANDLE (gk), 42. Matt PENNEY.

Though lying 12 places below Altrincham in twentieth place, Boston were in much better form. However, their home record was the second worst in the division with just four wins from their twenty home fixtures to date.

This was the clubs' first meeting in Lincolnshire since Altrincham had clinched promotion, behind closed doors, in 2020 thanks to an error by the Boston keeper.

That game had been played at York Road rather than in the new Jakemans Stadium, to which this was therefore Altrincham's first visit.

REPORT:

On a much better surface than that currently to be found at Moss Lane, the hosts won an early corner after Green and Hazell had combined on the left (3 mins). Ansen collected the ball from the corner, at the second attempt.

Alty settled, with a spell of play which must have comprised some twenty passes, but which produced no end-product (8 mins).

However, when Green lost the ball to Kosylo on the right, the Alty man's cross only narrowly failed to locate Regan Linney (10 mins). Soon afterwards, Linney got forward on the Alty right and his cross-cum-shot hit the back post before Kosylo saw his effort blocked by the keeper (11 mins).

But, at the other end, Ansen was unconvincing as he failed to deal with a Rowe header which struck the post and then the keeper before he could gather it properly (18 mins).

Linney then needed treatment for a facial blood injury which necessitated a change to the team's "blood-shirt" (20 mins).

Soon after returning to the fray Linney fired over the bar (23 mins). At the other end, Dolan lost poiossession and Hill fed Hazel for a shot which Ansen saved comfortably (26 mins).

The respite was short as Olson now lost the ball allowing Hazel to feed Maguire. As he advanced, he got the better of Baines before putting Boston one goal to the good with a low shot (26 mins).

Following this, hesitation by Ansen fortunately avoided further punishment whan Maguire's cross finally ended up in the keeper's possession (31 mins).

For Altrincham, as in several recent games, it was Kosylo who was looking as lively as anyone on the Alty side. Now, he jinked into the box and forced a save, low down, from Gregory (32 mins).

Ansen then needed to be alert to save from Hill and, a little later, stopped an effort from Hazel with his legs (39 mins).

Five added minutes were announced, during which a well-struck shot from Dolan only narrowly cleared the bar (45+4 mins).

As in the first half, it was Boston who won an early corner, this one materialising after a Nicholson long throw (49 mins). From the corner Maguire volleyed over the bar (50 mins).

Olson was fortunate to avoid a booking for a foul (55 mins) whilst the combustible Kosylo was irked soon afterwards when he got involved after Baines had been bundled into touch (58 mins).

Soon, Olson once more escaped sanction when Hazel went down suggesting foul play by the young defender.

Midway through the half, Reddin came on to replace Dolan (65 mins). Soon after this, Linney side-footed over the bar but gained a corner in the process.

Another change soon followed when James Jones replaced Olson at centre-back (67 mins).

Kosylo continued to be playing on the edge as he reacted to having his shirt pulled by Green and both the offender and Kosylo were booked (72 mins).

Perhaps the best chance of a leveller fell for James Jones but he blazed an effort over the bar from six yards or so (73 mins).

Alty now made a double change with Wilson and Penney replacing Osborne and Golden repectively (75 mins).

More stoppages for personnel changes disrupted the next seven minutes. Ward replaced Maguire (78 mins), before Gale came on for Hazel (80 mins). Next, Weaver replaced Kosylo (82 mins).

Boston were now looking comfortable with their narrow lead before Crawford found his way into the referee's book for a foul (88 mins).

Three added minutes saw Green replace Hill (90+1 mins) as the Pilgrims reached the finish line without any further alarms.

Altrincham have now taken just eight points from their last eleven league games yet remarkably remain just one place outside the play-off places with other teams also faltering. Their last seven league games have all ended with no more than a single goal between the teams.