ALTRINCHAM 1, SOLIHULL MOORS 2
Altrincham’s patched-up side gave a gutsy display in their home defeat to Solihull Moors who cemented their play-off place in Vanarama National League, the first live televised match at Moss Lane since 2008.
The armchair audience and season’s best crowd of 3,683 – boost by the offer of ‘Football For A Fiver’ – witnessed an entertaining encounter.
It looked as though the Robins, without 15 first-team squad players, might overcome adversity after loan debutant Barry Baggley gave them a first-half lead.
Moors hit back in the second period with strikes from Justin Donana and substitute Joe Sbarra to climb from seventh to fifth place.
The Robins, depleted through injury and self-isolation, included two loan debutants.
They were Fleetwood Town’s 19-year-old midfielder Baggley and Tom Walker, 25, who also plays in the middle, from Stockport County.
Key players missing included goalkeeper Tony Thompson, centre back Toby Mullarkey and dynamic winger Ryan Colclough.
Moors made the livelier start as Jamey Osborne and Jordan Cranston both went close.
However, it was Altrincham who made the breakthrough in the 15th minute after a neat passing move which ended with Walker feeding Irishman Baggley who found the net with a terrific drive from just inside the box.
And with confidence rising, the Robins could have had further first-half goals as Josh Hancock twice went close as did Tom Peers.
Moors rarely threatened, though shortly before half time Callum Maycock’s drive narrowly cleared the crossbar.
It was a different Moors side that started the second period as manager Neal Ardley, once AFC Wimbledon and Notts County boss, must have been unimpressed with their first half showing.
They were level within 60 seconds of the restart when Osborne’s through ball released Donana who lashed home a shot from 10 yards high past goalkeeper Matthew Gould, grandson of legendary striker and later manager Bobby.
It was Bermuda-born Donana’s first goal of the season which was followed by a second goal 18 minutes from time.
Substitute Sbarra had only been on the field for eight minutes when he struck his eighth goal of the season, but his first for seven games.
Sbarra, wjo made 70 first-team appearances for Burton Albion, latched on to a cut back from the right and steered a low shot past Gould.
Altrincham, who remain ninth, would have made it 2-2 but for a brilliant save low to his right by Ryan Boot to deny Peers.
And they went close again with five minutes left when Baggley fired narrowly wide at the far post from a left-wing cross by Walker.
Moors came close to sealing victory with a third goal when the dangerous Donana forced an acrobatic save from Gould to turn over his shot.