Having been the better side Altrincham conceded a cheap goal in the 19th minute when Jones headed away a Sutton cross which fell for Francis to score, with Hutchinson having come off his line and therefore out of position.

Sutton were then the better side till half time but when Alty made a double change after 62 minutes, as Kosylo and Weaver came on, and things improved for the visitors.

Altrincham equalised after Kosylo had won a freekick just outside the box, which Crankshaw netted, low to the keeper's left (70 mins).

Soon afterwards, Weaver took advantage of an error by Sutton to advance and feed Crankshaw who made it 1-2 (73 mins). But Crankshaw's game ended after 76 minutes with a shoulder injury.

Eight minutes of added time extended to nearly ten minutes being played as Altrincham achieved only their fourth away win of the league season.

SCORERS:

• 19 mins: Jermaine FRANCIS (Sutton United 1 ALTRINCHAM 0)
• 70 mins: Ollie CRANKSHAW (Sutton United 1 ALTRINCHAM 1)
• 73 mins: Ollie CRANKSHAW (Sutton United 1 ALTRINCHAM 2)

REFEREE: Mr Aaron Farmer, who had not previously reffed an Altrincham game.

ATTENDANCE: 2,661 (149 away) TBC)

TEAM NEWS:

Nine players remained unavailable to Neil Gibson today. Seven of them (Ross, Banks, Sass-Davies, Olson, Reed, Forde and Grant) were out of contention through injury. However, Barnes returned after completing his suspension but Reddin remained suspended for his second red card of the season.

Amongst those available to start, Neil Gibson made two changes as Barnes (returning from suspension) and Golden replaced Cooper and Kosylo.

For Sutton, former Alty loanee Danny Cashman returned to the squad on the bench.

LINE-UP:

SUTTON UNITED (All amber) 13. Chris Haigh, 8 Lewis Simper, 14. Edon Pruti (c), 18. David Ogbonna, 25. Jake Taylor, 26. Junior Eccleston, 36. Dan Urpens, 37. Charlie Bell, 39. Besart Topallaj, 42. Hayden Muller, 48. Jermaine Francis. Subs: 1. Jack Sims, 21. David Aziaya, 9. Davide Rodari, 23. Jayden Harris, 50. Kwaku Donkor, 51. Toby Byron, 52. Danny Cashman.

ALTRINCHAM (Red shirts with with white pinstripes, black shorts and white socks): 30. Luke Hutchinson, 23. Tylor Golden, 34. Dan Sassi, 24. Sam Barnes, 33. Eddy Jones, 28. Liam Humbles, 8. Isaac Marriott, 10. Otis Khan, 22. Tom Crawford (c), 7. Olly Crankshaw, 11. Jimmy Knowles. Subs: 27. Louie Fallon (gk), 5. Jake Cooper, 12. Kian Breckin, 14. Matty Kosylo, 17. Lucas Weaver, 25. Joel Bailey, 40. Charlie Kirk.

BACKGROUND:

Both sides had been too close to the relegation zone for comfort this season but were now mathematically safe from relegation. At kick off Alty were 15th but Eastleigh were in 18th, four points worse off.

REPORT:

On a bright Surrey afternoon Altrincham were grateful that an early slip by Jones led to no more than an unconverted ball payed across their goalmouth (4 mins).

The Robins gained their first corner when Golden cut in and aimed a cross at Crawford at the back post (9 mins). Next a deflected Golden shot needed a decent save from Haigh (10 mins).

Alty continued to enjoy a good spell with Crankshaw going down in the box but not winning a penalty before Khan shot wide at the end of a good build-up by the visitors (14 mins). Marriott was then harshly booked for a foul (16 mins) but Sassi headed clear the resuting freekick.

This promising spell from Altrincham was abruptly halted when a routine Sutton ball into the box was met by a header by Jones as his keeper Hutchinson came out for the same ball. With Hutchison stranded in the middle of his box, Francis smartly volleyed the Jones clearance into the unguarded net (19 mins).

The goal altered the mood of the game with Sutton now getting on top and Altrincham unable to create anything much. A Sutton corner was followed by a fine shot by Simper which just cleared the bar before Topalloj forced a good save from Hutchinson (27 mins).

As Sutton continued to set the pace a mazy run by Ogbonna ended with his shot into the side-netting (31 mins).

Golden was then booked, despite his tackle appearing to win the ball (34 mins). However, Sutton remained comfortably incharge as half-time approached with a shot by Humbles, which was saved comfprtably, being the best the visitors could muster (45 mins).

Three added minutes of play left the visitors trailing at the interval.

Altrincham started the half quite well but there was nothing too much to set the pulse racing before the hour mark. Eccleston was then booked and this stoppage was extended to allow a double change by Neil Gibson.

On came Weaver and Knowles for Knowles and Humbles (62 mins). The two substitutes soon combined well for Weaver to force a good save from Haigh (64 mins). Weaver was also soon involved agaian as he found Barnes whose effort came back off the underside of the crossbar (68 mins).

Next, Kosylo was tripped just outside the box by Ogbonna, who evaded a booking (69 mins). Crankshaw's low freekick found the back of the net to make it 1-1 (70 mins).

An error by Urpens then allowed Weaver to get free up the left and he fed Crankshaw who scored his second goal in three minutes to give Altrincham a 1-2 lead (73 mins). In celebration, Crankshaw removed his shirt and was duly booked.

Sutton reponded as formee Alty loanee from Coventry City, Danny Cashman, nowadays on loan from Crawley Tow,n replaced Ogbonna (74 mins).

It almost got even better for Alty when Weaver got into the box only for Pruti to execute a fine block (75 mins).

Crankshaw's six-minute cameo, which had included two goals and a booking ,now saw the winger having to be subbed with a shoulder injury (76 mins).

A crude foul by Barnes on Francis earned him a third booking for his side (82 mins).

Next, Cooper replaced Barnes (84 mins) and soon afterwards, Hutchinson was warned for timewasting (87 mins). There was then an off-the-ball incident in which Weaver seemed to be knocked to the ground. When the referee took no action, Weaver complained vehemently and got himself booked (89 mins).

After a stop-start second half eight added minutes were unsurprisingly decreed. This period extended into a tenth minute before the final whistle signalled Altrincham's fourth away win of a disappointing season on the road. The win lifted them to fourteenth.