FC Halifax Town 1 Altrincham 3: Aspin left stunned by Halifax’s rare defeat

Goals from Nicky Clee, James Lawrie and substitute Kyle Perry condemned the Shaymen to their first home loss since a 4-3 reverse against Woking last December, with Scott Boden grabbing a late consolation. It is Altrincham’s first away win of the season.

He said: “You’re always disappointed when you lose a game, especially at home.

“We haven’t had many defeats at home over the last couple of years.

“But this proved if we’re not at our best then you’re not going to win matches. We’ve been very poor but Altrincham deserved the victory.”

Matt Pearson missed a great chance to put Halifax ahead when he raced on to Danny Hattersley’s flick-on but rolled his shot wide.

This spurned opportunity was compounded when Clee produced a stunning effort that crashed in off a post from 25 yards.

Hattersley then hit a post with a header but the visitors, who had kept their first clean sheet of the season in midweek, reached the interval with another one intact.

Lawrie’s smart finish across Glennon was soon followed up with a slip by Marc Roberts allowing Perry to race clear and slip the ball under Glennon.

Boden’s late consolation goal came when he nodded in Roberts’s header back across goal.

FC Halifax Town: Glennon, K Roberts, M Roberts, Williams, McManus, Smith (Jackson 72), Pearson, Maynard (Peniket 46), Marshall, Boden, Hattersley. Unused substitutes: Senior, Schofield, Ainge.

Altrincham: Coburn, Densmore, Havern, Leather, Griffin, Lawrie, Moult, Williams (Crowther 77), Richman, Clee (Cavanagh 67), Reeves (Perry 64). Unused substitutes: Wilkinson, Marshall.

Referee: R Wigglesworth (South Yorkshire).