Evo-Stik Northern Premier League

Saturday 13 January 2018

Rangers slipped to their fifth home defeat in six league games, going down to league leaders, Altrincham.

It could have been a different outcome but the all too familiar story of not taking their chances was to prove costly once more.

Rangers enjoyed the better of the first half and had a chance as early as the third minute when Massiah McDonald got behind the Alty defence only to be denied by the left boot of Anthony Thompson. Both Jack Sherratt and Kieran Morris had shots blocked from the resultant corner.

Alty’s first look in came from a corner on the right which Jordan Hulme headed over.

Karl Hawley failed to make the most of a Stafford counter, seemingly undecided which route to take past the last visiting defender, and his hesitation saw the Alty player come out on top.

After an exchange with Robert Thompson-Brown, McDonald fired wide from distance as Rangers continued to provide the greater threat.

But, in between, Alty’s John Johnston went to ground in the area after battling with Kai Davis but the referee was unimpressed with the penalty claims and soon after Johnston fired over from 20 yards.

As Alty started to get more of a foothold, Adam Whitehouse was forced to turn over a touchline cross from James Poole.

Another Rangers’ counter – this time on the right – saw Thompson-Brown feed Hawley only for Alty keeper Thompson to come to his side’s rescue again, blocking the first time shot.

Next, Sherratt ran from box to box but the end product didn’t match the build up, the shot tamely going through to Thompson.

Alty’s best chance of the half came moments later but Poole blazed over from 15 yards when he should really have been on target.

The start of the second half was evenly contested with a header from Alty’s James Jones the best opportunity to fall to either side.

Then came the breakthrough. There seemed little threat with Poole in possession midway inside the Stafford half but his through ball found its way through the defence to Jordan Hulme and he calmly went round Whitehouse to give Alty a 61st minute lead.

From then on, Alty were in charge and Ben Harrison doubled the lead on 77 mins, firing home from close range following a corner.

Rangers’ challenge faded away Hulme could have added a third only for his header to come back of the post.

Rangers: 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 Sam Griffiths, 3 Kai Davis, 4 Kieran Morris, 5 Jordaan Brown, 6 Josh Craddock, 7 Massiah McDonald, 8 Jack Sherratt, 9 Karl Hawley (17 Osebi Abadaki 72m), 10 Dan Westwood (12 Izak Reid 83m), 11 Robert Thompson-Brown (14 Mat Bailey 83m). Unused subs: 15 Kieren Westwood, 16 Joe Thomas.

Altrincham: 1 Anthony Thompson, 2 Shaun Densmore (16 Andy White 78m), 3 Connor Hampson, 4 James Jones, 5 Ben Harrison, 6 Jake Moult, 7 John Johnston, 8 Max Harrop (15 Simon Richman 57m), 9 Jordan Hulme, 10 James Poole, 11 Joshua Hancock (14 Sean Miller 81m). Unused subs: 12 Thomas Peers, 20 Tim Deasy

Cautions: Bailey, Sherratt (Rangers); Harrop (Altrincham)

Referee: Simon Brown

Att 599

Report: Chris Elsley