ALTRINCHAM 0, SOLIHULL MOORS 2
Altrincham were mistaken if they thought giantkillers Solihull Moors wouldn’t have their eye on the ball an Emirates FA Cup hangover for the visit to the J Davidson Stadium.
The Moors, who won three days earlier at League Two Scunthorpe United, produced a clinical display to climb to fourth place in the National League.
Two goals in the space of three first-half minutes from Joe Sbarra and Jamey Osborne proved decisive as Jimmy Shan’s side emerged victorious against the recently promoted Robins.
And the win was achieved without Adam Rooney as the former Oldham Athletic and Salford City striker remains on the sidelines with the hamstring injury which has restricted him to only one appearance in the current campaign.
Altrincham were returning home after a challenging run of five successive away league games – six consecutive games on the road if you also count the FA Trophy tie at AFC Fylde.
But having picked up a creditable five points on their travels, they were beginning a run which sees five of their next six league games on home turf.
But it was not the start they wanted as Altrincham remain third bottom, though the division is so tight that only one point separates 11th and 22nd places.
The Moors, whose side contained two full internationals Stephen Gleeson (Eire) and Krystian Pearce (Barbados), made the breakthrough in the 18th minute when a cross from the left was cleared only as far as former Burton Albion player Sbarra who slotted home a low shot from 12 yards.
Three minutes later and it got even better when Osborne, who has Grimsby Town among his previous employers, bent home an exquisite shot from the edge of the box.
Altrincham, completely second best early on, gradually inched their way into the game in the latter stages of the opening half and caused several skirmishes in the visiting goalmouth.
The Moors began the second half well with Mitch Hancox and Sbarra having chances to extend the lead.
Altrincham weathered the storm and again enjoyed a decent spell, but lacked the cutting edge which has been glaring following the recent departure of striker Jordan Hulme to AFC Fylde.
It was a measure of the strength of the Solihull squad that they were able to bring on Jamie Ward, 34, the former Sheffield United, Derby County and Nottingham Forest striker.