After 88 minutes Altrincham were undeservedly 1-2 down; after the minimum of four added minutes had been played in torrential sleet and rain, the Robins had won 4-2.

Although Altrincham had started well and had created, but spurned a couple of early chances, The Iron took the lead against the run of play in the 14th minute when Ubaezuonu's impressive over head kick found the net from a ball from the right.

Alty found an equaliser in the 34th minute from Crawford's clever near-post header, converting an Osborne corner from the right.

With centre-back Sassi suspended, his replacement Barnes suffered a back injury just before half-time and had to be replaced by midfielder Ward.

In the second half Scunthorpe retook the lead just before the hour mark when a low ball from the left was smartly finished by Beestin (59 mins).

Alty struggled to find a leveller but, with time running out and manager Neil Gibson cutting an increasingly frustrated figure, Matty Kosylo converted a ball from the right from Reddin to level the score once again (89 mins).

The manager's spirits were further lifted following an Alty corner, when the ball reached Crankshaw via Ward and the substitute winger's lob found the net to give Altrincham the lead (90+1 mins).

Scunthorpe keeper Mahady had already come up for one corner before advancing for a second flag-kick for his side deep into added time. On this occasion, however, from the Iron corner Crankshaw got past an opponent deep in the Alty half and ran the length of the pitch to score into the unguarded net and make it 4-2 (90+5 mins).

Crankshaw's goals were his first for the club in his 27th game across two and a half injury-ravaged seasons.

SCORERS:

• 14 mins: Carlton UBAEZUONU (ALTRINCHAM 0 Scunthorpe United 1)
• 34 mins: Tom CRAWFORD (ALTRINCHAM 1 Scunthorpe United 1)
• 59 mins: Alfie BEESTIN (ALTRINCHAM 1 Scunthorpe United 2)
• 89 mins: Matty KOSYLO (ALTRINCHAM 2 Scunthorpe United 2)
• 90(+1) mins: Olly CRANKSHAW (ALTRINCHAM 3 Scunthorpe United 2)
• 90(+5) mins: Olly CRANKSHAW (ALTRINCHAM 4 Scunthorpe United 2)

REFEREE: Mr Steven Copeland

ATTENDANCE: 2,261 (622 in away section)

TEAM NEWS:

As well as the suspended Dan Sassi, Altrincham were still without several long/medium-term injured players (Ethan Ross, Billy Sass-Davies, Sam Reed, Louis Fallon and Lewis Banks). Olly Crankshaw had missed the previous game through illness but he had recovered to be named on the bench today. He took the place on the bench of Sam Barnes who was restored to the first team in place of Sassi.

As well as Barnes, there were two other changes by Neil Gibson; Kahrel Reddin and James Gale replaced Keaton Ward and Jimmy Knowles.

For Scunthorpe United, the only starting-eleven change saw Boyce, returning from suspension, replace the injured Roberts. On the bench Jones came in, with leading scorer Whitehall still absent, sidelined by injury. On the bench Jones replaced Johnson.

LINE-UPS:

ALTRINCHAM (Red shirts with white pinstripes, black shorts and red socks): 30. Luke Hutchinson, 24. Sam Barnes, 4. Lewis Baines (c), 5. Jake Cooper, 23. Tylor Golden, 6. Elliot Osborne, 22. Tom Crawford, 40. Charlie Kirk, 14. Matty Kosylo, 20. Kahrel Reddin, 9. James Gale. Subs: 7. Olly Crankshaw, 8 Isaac Marriott, 10. Keaton Ward, 11. Jimmy Knowles 17. Lucas Weaver, 21. Jack Hinchy, 41. Max Beddow (gk)

SCUNTHORPE UNITED (White shirts with crimson splashes, crimson shorts and socks) 38. Rory Mahady, 33. Tyler Denton, 3. Branden Horton, 4. Jean Belehouan, 21. Joe Starbuck, 8. Alfie Beestin, 11. Joe Rowley, 25. Zain Westbrooke, 16. Tyrell Sellars-Fleming, 6. Andrew Boyce (c), 14. Carlton Ubaezuonu. Subs: 12. Louis Jones (gk), 23. Billy Chadwick, 22. Joey Dawson, 15. Dubem Eze, 7. Declan Howe, 2. Oliver Rose, 20. Kian Scales.

This was Neil Gibson and Lee Jones's first game as Altrincham managers since being appointed on a permament basis after six fixtures as interim appointees.

Scunthorpe had lost just twice this season but recent form had been less impressive than earlier in the campaign with The Iron having secured just two wins from their last seven outings in league and FA Cup.

On a dull afternoon that was to turn very wet and wintry, the game kicked off under already illuminated floodlights. Despite plenty of rain in the two days leading up to the match the pitch was in good order.

Scunthorpe fans had travelled the 90 miles from Lincolnshire in good numbers.

REPORT:

Altrincham's Kirk kicked off, with his side attacking the away end. Within seconds Gale had been barged over by Denton in what the referee deemed a fair shoulder charge. More contentious was Mr Copeland's failure to grant a freekick to Reddin after he was felled soon afterwards (2 mins). The winger was soon to be upended again as the visitors made a robust start.

Kirk got in the first meaningful shot when his effort from the left was parried away by Mahady. The visitors were to lose possession quite regularly but when Kosylo robbed Denton, his resulting cross was disappointing (4 mins).

Altrincham continued to set the early pace but it was Kosylo, again, who ended their next move with another poor ball. On the other flank another Kirk effort from the left hit the inside of the back post and bounced away from Kosylo who, otherwise, would have had a tap-in at the back post (6 mins).

Alty continued to apply pressure and, from a Kirk corner, Crawford rose to head goalwards but this was cleared off the line (6 mins). Gale was then twice flagged offside before the striker laid on a chance for Reddin who dragged his shot across the face of goal from the right (11 mins).

Then, after the above half-chances for Altrincham had not been converted, the visitors scored. Starbuck advanced on the right and from a clearing heade by BArnes, the ball fell for Beestin who, despite BAines's close proximity, executed an impressive overhead kick which gave Hutchinson no chance and put the Iron one up against the run of play (14 mins).

The visitors were not averse to petty fouls to break up play to stifle Alty's response to falling behind but, by midway through the half, they had seized the initiative forcing Altrincham to keep all eleven players deep in their own half.

However, the visitors were fortunate when a fine ball from Osborne set Reddin racing towards the box only to be clattered just outside the penalty area by the advancing keeper Mahady. Mr Copeland opted for a yellow rather than red card (26 mins).

The resulting freekick by Kosylo was superby hit but was parried away to his left by the keeper, leading to the concession of a corner (28 mins). From this a low shot from distance by Barnes was saved.

Alty were still pressing as the half-hour passed, as Reddin won a corner (32 mins), before Gale battled to earn another flag-kick (33 mins). From Osborne's corner, taken short for Kirk to cross, Crawford glanced an excellent header across goal to make it 1-1 (34 mins).

It nearly got better when Reddin's lay-off was volleyed only narrowly wide by Kosylo (38 mins). The equaliser had silenced the previously vociferous away supporters and it nearly got worse for them when Gale held off a challenge and appeared to strike the upright (40 mins).

However, the Lincoknshire men responded after this, winning a freekick against Barnes but Hutchinson punched the ball away and found touch (44 mins).

Barnes was then held by an opponent and, though no foul was given by the referee, the defender immediately held the small of his back and went down for treatment. Although he managed to complete the half, Ward was already being prepared to replace him after the break.

As expected, Ward replaced Barnes for the second period, with the stricken centre-back now joining his two centre-back coleagues (Sass-Davies and Sassi) in being unable to participate in this game. Golden moved to the right of the back line with Kosylo protecting the left.

There was a worrying moment soon afterwards when Hutchinson fell awkwardly after collecting an aerial ball but he recovered. It was Scunthorpe who started the half on the front foot but without creating anything serious.

For Alty, Keaton Ward got a sight of goal but skied an awful shot miles over the stand into Golf Road (52 mins). At the other end Boyce was also off target with a wide shot from 25 yards.

A Scunthorpe corner soon came and went before a well-struck low shot from Golden went narrowly wide.

The visitors' Denton then threaded a low ball into the goalmouth from the left which Beestin took in his stride before advancing a few paces to slot the ball smoothly past Hutchinson and restore his side's lead (59 mins). Soon afterwards, Howe replaced Horton for the Iron (61 mins).

At the halfway point of the half, Westbrooke won a corner before Reddin had a shot blocked at the other end (68 mins).

Rain was now falling as Kirk and Osborne were replaced by Crankshaw and Marriott (71 mins).

Marriott was soon on the end of a foul challenge which finally induced Mr Copeland to locate his yellow card (77 mins). The freekick was dreadfully struck by Crankshaw, miles over the bar.

Scuthorpe now made changes with Rose replacing Starbuck and Scales for Beestin (79 mins).

Rain was pouring down on the away fans in the open away end and this had turned to sleet by the time that Alty responded with a double change of their own, Knowles and Hinchy replacing Gale and Crawford (83 mins).

Cooper found himself booked (85 mins) With the heavy sleet worsening Altrincham keeper Hutchinson had to make a fine save (86 mins) after which Crankshaw advanced but his shot from 22 yards was saved (87 mins).

Next, Reddin got forward on the right and when the ball reached Kosylo, he found the net to the delight of the Golf Road end, making it 2-2 (89 mins). It was no more than Altrincham deserved.

Four added minutes were displayed much to Neil Gibson's annoyance; he presumably wanted more with his team in the ascendant.

Altrincham then won a corner which was taken short and the ball found its way to Crankshaw left of centre. He lobbed the ball into the net to spark delirium in the technical area and the Altrincham sections of the ground (90 +1 mins).

Crankshaw was booked for removing his shirt whilst Neil Gibson was shown a yellow card for running onto the pitch.

It was Crankshaw's first goal for the club in his 27 appearances for the club.

Scunthorpe pressed forward and won two corners for which keeper Mahady went upfield, even putting in a cross from the right wing after the second flag kick. However, it was from Mahady, on the frings of the Alty box, that possession was lost leaving the keeper stranded Mahady as Crankshaw broke forward and evaded a challenge to set himself free, well inside his own half (90+5 mins).

He raced up the middle before slotting the ball into the empty net to cue amazing scenes on the Alty bench as players and staff hugged each other in a mass celebration. A 1-2 deficit had been turned into a 4-2 win inside little more then five minutes!