Although the two sides had near identical records going into this match it proved to be a fairly comfortable win for Altrincham against Hornchurch.

That was despite losing influential midfielder Liam Humbles to what seemed to be a serious shoulder injury incurred in a foul challenge after just 7 minutes.

Altrincham took the lead in first-half added time when Sam Taylor drove home a shot from the left (45+3 mins).

Two goals in three minutes left Altrincham in control just before the hour mark. First, Charlie Kirk celebrated his fiftieth appearance with his first goal for Altrincham, an exqusitely executed lob from the left (54 mins) before a smart header from Jimmy Knowles from a right-wing cross made it 3-0 (57 mins).

Hornchurch did muster some late momentum, testing goalkeeper Firth a couple of times, but he made good saves on both occasions to ensure a firdt clean sheet of the season for his side. This sixth win in seven outings lifted Alty to eighth in the National League ahead of a midweek visit to basement club Gateshead. In fact, the Robins are level on points with the fifth-placed club.

SCORERS:

• 45(+3) mins: Sam TAYLOR (ALTRINCHAM 1 Hornchurch 0)
• 54 mins: Charlie KIRK (ALTRINCHAM 2 Hornchurch 0)
• 57 mins: Jimmy KNOWLES (ALTRINCHAM 3 Hornchurch 0)

REFEREE: Mr Lewis Smith

ATTENDANCE: 2,113 (76 from Hornchurch)

TEAM NEWS:

Last weekend at Fylde, Altrincham were without seven of their squad through injury or illness (German, Jones, Olson, Dennis, Khan, Forde, Evans) whilst Crawford and Barnes also failed to make it to the second half of last Saturday's game at Fylde through injury. However, Crawford was fit to start and Khan had recovered to take a place on the bench. Dennis and Jones were able to lap the pitch pre-match but they remained out of action along with Olson, German, Forde and Evans

Alty made two changes to the starters for this game. Barnes, injured last time out, dropped out of the squad whilst Hemmings moved to the bench. Into the starting side came Kirk and Reddin.

On the eve of the match Hornchurch had signed young midfielder Alfie Massey on loan from Millwall until 3rd January and he started. Kizzi and Bracking dropped out whilst Edwards started. On the bench Greenidgea nd Balanta came in

LINE-UP:

ALTRINCHAM (Red shirts with white sleeves and trim, red shorts and white socks): 13. Andy Firth, 14. Matty Kosylo, 21. Reuben Lopata-White, 2. Lewis Banks, 15. Sam Taylor, 22. Tom Crawford (c), 8. Liam Humbles, 23. Charlie Kirk, 20. Kahrel Reddin, 10. Aidan Barlow, 11. Jimmy Knowles. Subs: 4. Jack Hinchy, 5.Jake Cooper, 7. Otis Khan, 12. Kian Breckin, 17. Lucas Weaver, 28. Kane Hemmings, 32. Michael Acquah (gk)

HORNCHURCH (All blue) 1. Arthur Nasta, 19. Sam Ling, 6. Tom Dallison-Lisbon, 3. Ryan Inniss, 8. Tom Wraight (c), 4. Jack Powell, 11. Henry Sandat, 22. Frankie Edwards, 26. Aaron Rowe, 7. Josh Walker, 27. Alfie Massey. Subs: 13. Rhys Byrne (gk), 2. Will Greenidge, 9. Henry Hearn, 10. Angelo Balanta, 14. Charlie Pegrum, 21. Dominic Poleon, 17. Asher Yearwood.

BACKGROUND:

Hornchurch were paying their first visit to Altrincham, having been promoted from the National League South last summer. After Southend United, they became the second Essex club to face Alty this season and, curiously, this was also only the second home match to be a Saturday 3pm kick-off so far this season.

The Urchins started the game one position above tenth-placed Altrincham thanks to a better goal difference but both teams had identical records of P9 W5 D0 L4. Indeed, the similarity went further with both sides having won three times at home and lost once, whilst away both outfits have won twice and lost on three occasions.

Both sides had also secured impressive wins last Saturday; whilst Altrincham were overcoming second-placed AFC Fylde at Mill Farm, Hornchurch were defeating Scunthorpe United.

REPORT:

Hornchurch kicked off toard Golf Road on a sunny and warm September afternoon and within 10 seconds they had won a freekick for a foul by Reddin. But a fine run on the left by Taylor earned Alty the first corner of the game after just ninety seconds.

Most Altrincham corners these days involve both Taylor and Kirk with the vast majority taken short; this one came to nothing.

Then as Humbles burst forward up the middle he was chopped down in full flight and, though it was reasonable for the referee to play advantage, it was not as reasonable to fail even to speak to the offender after the move ended (6 mins). It was all the more culpable when the midfielder stayed down and, after treatment, had to be helped off with what looked to be a serious right shoulder injury (8 mins).

Khan, back after illness, replaced the stricken Humbles (8 mins). The next few minutes were rather shaky for Altrincham, culminating in a potentially suicidal pass out by Firth towards an opponent but the keeper was spared further blushes by his defence (14 mins).

Things improved thanks to a fine thrugh ball from Crawford which Nasta only just got to ahead of the advancing Kirk (16 mins).

The NHornchurch keeper did less well soon afterwards as he came out of his box on his left side but failed to get to the ball allowing Knowles to roll the ball across the face of goal where a defender cleared the danger.

Neither side threatened the other's goal over the next few minutes before Crawford went close, from just outside the box, his shot just clearing the bar (27 mins). At the other end Firth then had to slide out quickly to clear as Sandat advanced (30 mins).

Reddin was looking lively on the right before Sandat was booked for a foul on Kosylo (32 mins). The Hornchurch man was a little unfortunate as Kosylo had raced up on his blind side.

Alty now began to get on top more consistently as a Kosylo shot was blocked before the home side earned two corners inside a minute (37 mins). A threatening cross from Reddin found no team mate before the visitors' captain Wraight went down and needed substituting by Yearwood with what may have been a groin problem (40 mins)

Another two corners followed in quick succession for the hosts but, as four added minutes were displayed by the fourth official, it semmed the half would end goalless.

But, in the third added minute, a slick Alty build-up in which Barlow was prominent saw the referee play advantage after a foul on Knowles and Taylor advanced to drive home a shot at the near post from the left to make it 1-0 (45+3 mins).

Darryl McMahon made a double swap for the second half with Greenidge replacing Edwards and Hearn coming on for Sandat (46 mins).

Hornchurch's second yellow card was again for a foul on Kosylo, with Walker the recipient (47 mins).

A promising Alty move now ended in a poor cross from the left by Kirk (48 mins).

After a few minutes of Hornchurch probing, smart play from Knowles fed Reddin who got the ball to Kirk on the left of the box. On his fiftieth appearance for Altrincham Kirk finally scored with a briliant lob over the keeper and defenders into the far side of the net,making i 2-0 (54 mins).

The goal increased Alty's confidence and, next, a fine shot by Knowles forced a good save by Nasta, low to his left. However, the ball was recycled and from a right-wing cross, Knowles headed home Altrinchams third goal of the match and the forward's third goal of the season (57 mins).

Alty were now rampant with two more corners won in the next six minutes.

Hornchurch made another change with Pegrum replacing Walker (64 mins). But the change made no immediate difference as Crawford, who had a good game, fed Knowles whose superb curling shot form 20 yards look destined for the corner of the net before Nasta made a fine save (65 mins).

Next, Crawford was booked for a foul on Hearn (67 mins).

Hornchurch now enjoyed a good spell with Yearwood involved before Pegrum slid a cross across the face of goal from the right (70 mins). Next debutant Massey's 20 yarder was imprssively tipped over the bar by Firth for a corner (71 mins).

Neil Gibsn now made a triple change as Hinchy, Weaver and Hemmings replaced Crawford, Reddin and Khan respectively (74 mins). Banks assumed the captaincy.

Not long afterwards a fine ball from Knowles got Hemmings in on goal but the striker was seen off by the defence (78 mins).

Hornchurch's final change brought on Balanta for Rowe (78 mins).

After a quiet first half Knowles was having a good second half and he now won a corner (83 mins) but this, like its predecessors, came to naught.

A brilliant dummy by Barlow brought a big cheer from the home support and led to another corner being won. Following this a Hemmings header went narrowly wide (87 mins).

Next, defender Cooper replaced forward Knowles for the hosts (87 mins)< Although Breckin had been prepped to come on for some time but he was not to be utilised.

After a fine run by Greenidge it took an excellent clearance off the line by Cooper to keep the clean sheet intact, a corner being the outcome (90 mins).

A conservative three added minutes were proclaimed as Charlie Kirk was named Man of the Match. But there was to be no change to the scoreline as Alty recorded their first clean sheet and made it six wins out of seven ahead of successive away games against the bottom club (Gateshead) and the runaway league leaders (Boreham Wood).

Altrincham moved up tp eight and were only separated from fifth place by goal difference.