This defeat means that for the first time in 27 years, Altrincham have failed to win any of their first three fixtures of a league season at national level. Again it was a lack of finishing that was a major factor as several presentable chances went begging.

In a goalless first half the hosts saw more of the ball but Altrincham created the two best chances with Knowles skying an early effort and, later, Jimmy Knowles swivelling inside the box but directing his shot narrowly wide.

Moments after the interval Alty went even closer as Humbles hit the post after a Kirk effort had been blocked.

But the Pilgrims took a 58th minute lead when Grimes's long ball from the left caused hesitation from Hinchy as Evans came out of his goal and Aboh got between them on the edge of the box to poke the ball into the net.

SCORERS:

• 58 mins: Ken ABOH (Boston United 1 Altrincham 0)

REFEREE: Mr Garreth Rhodes

ATTENDANCE: 1,630 (72 in away section)

TEAM NEWS:

To an injured list already including Charlie Olson (hamstring), Eddie Jones (hamstring), Owen German (ruptured achilles), Sam Barnes and Kristian Dennis (unspecified injury) was added the name of Altrincham captain Tom Crawford whose absence was one of three changes to the line-up today.

More positively, Matty Kosylo was back after suspension and Jimmy Knowles was fit enough to start after only being fit to play as a substitute at Sutton. As well as Knowles and Kosylo, a third "K" was added to the starting eleven in the shape of Charlie Kirk.

Dropping to the bench were Lucas Weaver and Reuben Lopata-White, where they joined Kahrel Reddin who was included in a squad for the first time this season.

Out of the squad went Joel Bailey, with Lewis Banks assuming the captaincy ln Crawford's absence.

Boston made one change as Holohan replaced Pozo who was ruled out with a head injury.

LINE-UP:

BOSTON UNITED (Amber shirts with black trim, black shorts, amber socks) 13. Louis Chadwick, 23. Jamie Grimes, 6. Niall Canavan (c), 4. Connor Teale, 3. Lewis Shipley, 2. Sai Sachdev, 18. Lennon Wheeldon, 28. Terrell Agyemang, 8. Gavan Holohan, 11. Ken Aboh, 9. Tom Cursons. Subs: 1. Luke Faxon, 22. Ben Hammond, 7. Jack Holmes, 14. Lenell John-Lewis, 27. Kai Mauro, 20. J Rooney, 5. George Ward

ALTRINCHAM (Red shirts with white sleeves and trim, red shorts and white socks): 1. Owen Evans; 14. Matty Kosylo, 5.Jake Cooper, 2. Lewis Banks (c), 15. Sam Taylor, 4. Jack Hinchy, 8. Liam Humbles, 7. Otis Khan, 10. Aidan Barlow, 23. Charlie Kirk, 11. Jimmy Knowles. Subs: 12. Kian Breckin, 13. Andy Firth (gk), 16. Remi Raymond, 17. Lucas Weaver, 26. Anthony Forde, 21. Reuben Lopata-White, 20. Kahrel Reddin

BACKGROUND:

Alty were seeking to avoid a third successive defeat from the start of the season.

After Altrincham had secured promotion from National North at Boston's expense in 2020, The Pilgrims were laer reunited with Altrincham in the National League when they gained promotion themselves in 2024.

LAst season (2025/26) Boston won the fixture in Lincolnshire 1-0 before drawing 2-2 with Alty in March 2026, thanks to the Pilgrims' 94th minute equaliser.

All NL matches today were kicking off at 12.30pm to allow DAZN to stream them live.

REPORT:

Altrincham kicked off on a sunny afternoon at Boston's modern Jakemans Stadium. There was an early scare for Altrincham when an Evans clearance went to Cursons but no harm resulted on this occasion (4 mins).

However, it was Altrincham who posed the first serious threat to either goal when when a Humbles cross was half-cleared to Knpowles but Alty's former Boston striker volleyed comfortably over the bar from right of centre (7 mins).

Play halted for treatment to Evans who went down after kicking the ball (10 mins) but he resumed afterwards. Under the new timewasting rules, despite the goalkeeper's injury being genuine, Alty were required to dispense with a player for a minute and, with no other player nominated in the stautory ten seconds, it was captain Banks who had to leave the field (12 mins).

Almost immediately the hosts got in their first meaningful shot and this was either side's first shot on target. But Evans held a 20 yarder struck straight at him. A series of petty fouls by Alty then allowed Boston to get a hold on possession.

But Altrincham should have taken the lead when they advanced up the left and the ball came to Knowles, about 10 yards out. He swivelled to make space but guided his low shot narrowly wide of the near post (25 mins).

The game's first corner arose from a Boston long-throw which Kirk put out of play. A second home corner soon followed, off Cooper, as Alty remained on the back foot at this stage (31 mins).

Aboh was proving the game's liveliest player and he now got round Khan on the byeline before the midfielder hauled him down, earning a yellow card and conceding a freekick (33 mins). Following this. Holohan hit a 25 uarder on target but it proved a comfortable save for Evans (34 mins).

It was Altrincham who next created a good chance as Barlow's low cross seemed certain to be tapped in by Kirk at the back post, only for a last-ditch block to prevent this, at the cost of a first corner for the visitors (35 mins).

The Robins had created the three best chances of the game but had failed to convert any of them or inderd to to trouble the keeper. A fourth opening was created by Altrincham through a neat move which ended in Kirk's effort being saved but offside was flagged in any case (37 mins).

Boston then had a pot at goal from a freekick from the left front corner of the box, but this was fielded by Evans (42 mins). A surprisingly short single minute of added time, given the Evans injury stoppage, was announced but the first half ended goalless.

The second half started with Altrincham going close again as a ball from Barlow set Kirk free in the left of the box but his effort was blocked and the rebound fell for Humbles whose low shot came back off the keeper's left upright (46 mins).

Cursons responded by winning the Pilgrims a corner before, at the other end, Knowles advanced toward the byeline before being halted crudely by Sachdev who was cautioned (55 mins). The Alty freekick was soon followed by a Robins corner which, taken by Taylor, did not clear the first defender at the near post.

Play immediately switched to the other end where Grimes's cross from the left caused confusion between the advancing keeper Evans and midfielder Jack Hinchy towards the front edge of the Alty box. Aboh took advantage of the hesitation to hook the ball into the net to give his side the lead (58 mins).

The goal prompted a few mintes of Boston dominanvce in which they won two corners. But it was the Roins who threatened next when Kosylo advanced impressively and hit a fine shot at goal which was deflected away by Agyemang (64 mins).

Each side won a corner before Reddin for Kirk became the first substitution of the day (69 mins). As Kirk took too long to leave the pitch, Alty fell foul of a new anti=timewasting rule for the second time in the match. His dallyiong meant that Reddin could not come on so Alty had to play with ten men for a minute.

Next, Hinchy was booked for a pull on Aboh (71 mins). Nxet, Alty won two more corners and Boston added another to their tally before Weaver and Lopata-White replaced Barlow and Hinchy for the visitors (80 mins).

Soon, another good run by Kosylo ended with a low cross which was cleared before Rooney replaced Agyemang for the hosts (84 mins). After another Boston corner, Breckin replaced Humbles (87 mins).

John-Lewis continued the wave of substitutions as he replaced Cursons (89 mins). Three added minutes were decreed, towards the end of which Altrincham won a corner, for which goalkeeper Evans went upfield and, though this produced another corner, the referee blew for time before it could be taken (90+4 mins).

So Alty had fallen to a third successive defeat, their worst start to a campaign since 2002 when they were competing in the Northern Premier League but, in national level football, the last such losing sequence was in the Conference in 1999.