ALTRINCHAM go into Saturday’s derby with ASHTON UNITED 9 points clear at the top of the Evo-Stik Premier after another match-winning performance by Max Harrop last Saturday.
Goals from Harrop and substitute John Johnston were enough for Alty to beat bottom of the table Sutton Coldfield 2-1 and they visit fellow promotion hopefuls Ashton this weekend.
Warrington are 2nd in the table while Ashton are one of 4 teams that are joint-3rd, 12 points behind the other Robins, Altrincham.
The Greater Manchester rivals only played the reverse fixture 2-and-a-half weeks ago, with Alty hanging on for a 3-2 home victory after Harrop scored a superb opener against his former club (see highlights below).
After drawing 1-1 at Barwell last Saturday, that’s the only league game Ashton have lost in their last 15, so Alty’s assistant manager Neil Sorvel will settle for another narrow victory after coming from behind against Sutton Coldfield.
“We were far from perfect but we found a way to win,” he said. “We asked them for a quick start and got a terrible start.
“If you look at Sutton Coldfield’s recent results, they’ve done well. They’ve had a new manager in and they’ve had a bump in performances with that. I think they’re chucking a bit of money at it as well, in terms of trying to stay in the league, so we knew they’d be better.
“The second half was really strange, it was flat and we weren’t able to generate the attacks. But Max was fantastic again and we’ve managed to get the three points.”
A crowd of 905 at the J Davidson stadium took part in a minute’s applause for Altrincham fan David Cameron, who sadly passed away last week at the age of 32. We at Beyond the Big Two offer our condolences to the family of David at this tough time.
Alty also displayed their utmost support for the Football v Homohpobia campaign, with the Robins wearing the campaign logo on their t-shirts while warming up. For more information on the cause, go to footballvhomophobia.com
Many would have expected a stroll in the park for Alty, with the Robins being top and hosting the bottom side in the table, but it was anything but.
Just 13 minutes in the visitors went in front through right-back Tyler Lyttle. The defender ventured down the right flank and some clever interplay led the 21-year-old to be able to strike a shot
across keeper Tony Thompson, giving the East Midlands side a shock lead.
Seven minutes later Phil Parkinson’s men were level through another Max Harrop stunner. Ben Harrison found the former Bury trainee in acres of space and what else would the one-time midfielder do from 30 yards out? Of course he would score!
The 24-year-old’s left-footed effort swerved in the wind and Sutton keeper Jonathan Brown couldn’t do anything to stop it.
And 11 minutes from time the league leaders went ahead for the first time of the afternoon. Josh Hancock was swiped in the box by James Beresford and the referee, Ian Gittins, took his time before pointing to the spot.
Johnston returned from injury off the bench and the winger was the one who was given the task of trying to slot the ball past Brown. And that he did, sending the keeper the wrong way.
Just before the 90 minutes were up, a bad challenge from Harrop on Dominic Dell meant that a free-kick was given to Sutton, but Dell reacted badly, clawing Harrop’s face, which earned him a red card while Harrop was booked.
Harrop will return to Hurst Cross this Saturday for an eagerly-anticipated clash, and Ashton have another derby on Tuesday night as they host STALYBRIDGE CELTIC.
A last-minute equaliser meant Bridge had to settle for a 2-2 draw at home to Hednesford, after Matty Wolfenden had put Celtic in front with a quickfire brace late on, and Steve Burr’s men aim to continue their climb away from the bottom on Saturday away to mid-table Stafford Rangers.
Beyond the Big Two 