A heavy and persistent rain-shower started which was to last till half-time. Lancaster responded with the best move of the game when Martin, Morton and Ward combined in a skilful interchange on the edge of the box which set up Ward for a fine goal from inside the box, which Coburn could nothing about (25 mins).

Ellison's response was a run down the wing which was halted as the rain intensified whilst a 20-yard snap-shot at the other end was not far wide of the target, as Lancaster pressed hard to get on level terms. Quayle won some respite when he turned a defender but was fouled; Ward's free-kick led to a Hawes corner on the right which was met by Talbot's header which the keeper saved (30 mins) Crowe, then Maddox cut out successive Lancaster attacks, the latter by means of a crude lunge on Morton on the touchline (31 mins) which led to a Graham free-kick. Crowe's cross to Landon, who received the ball back from Adams, led to an overhit pass by Landon for Ellison.

A characteristic surge forward by Adams was halted by a foul by Clitheroe and the prone Adams was promptly hit by the ball as a Lancaster defender, (hopefully accidentally), kicked it away. Ward's free-kick was picked off Talbot's head by the keeper (34 mins). Hawes's influence increased in midfield and Adams, too, was having a good game, whilst Ward sprayed around some fine passes but was also caught in possession once or twice. A fine ball from Ward led Jason Gallagher to chase forward but Horridge raced out of his box to clear just in time for a throw (39 mins).

Another fine cross by Ward was miscontrolled by Ellison who was in a threatening position by the goal-line. Landon then played a superb flick-on, off a Lancaster defender but, nevertheless, offside was given against Quayle as he raced on to the ball (40 mins). Hawes was soon heavily involved; first being fouled, then turning skilfully in the centre of the pitch before being blocked by Horner and having a rather over-ambitious shot from 25 yards which went well wide as Altrincham dominated play.

Graham closed off Quayle as he chased a through ball but Maddox was beaten at the other end by Ward but the Altrincham man recovered to block Ward's progress before he won a free-kick for foot-up by Mayers (44 mins). The players trooped off in pouring rain for the half-time break, with Altrincham deservedly ahead, but Lancaster were far from beaten yet.

The game went through a scrappy ten minutes after the interval though Horridge did have to dive at Power's feet and a low cross from Crowe narrowly evaded both Ellison and Landon with only the keeper between them and the goal (51 mins). For their part, Lancaster's Chris Ward elicited a routine save from Coburn before Crowe earned a rebuke from the referee for pushing over a Lancaster player as the visitors pressed forward. Ellison was cynically taken out at shoulder height when Horner deliberately stepped into his path as Kevin went past him but again Mr Gerrard showed leniency and settled for a lecture not a card (54 mins).

Hawes was the next offender, pushing over Mayers but the Alty midfielder soon fed Crowe, whose fine cross just cleared Gallagher's head forcing Horridge to dive at Power's feet as the Altrincham man closed in. Lancaster were still battling and Coburn had to retrieve Maddox's discomforture with a punch clear under pressure (56 mins). Soon afterwards, Talbot was beaten by Clitheroe but, after his cross was half-cleared, a second cross just evaded a Lancaster forward. Crowe was finding space on the right but some of his crosses were less than perfect and even Mark Ward was caught in two minds in centre-field and ended up passing the ball straight into touch, much to his own annoyance. Haddow replaced Fowler for the visitors (63 mins) and Landon gave way to Scheuber for Altrincham at the same time, precipitating Ellison's move up field as Scheuber settled into midfield behind him. Prompted by Hawes, Altrincham swept forward but as Ellison raced towards the left edge of the box, he went down as the last man, keeper Horridge, arrived feet first.

As the crowd bayed for the keeper's sending off, the referee consulted his linesman and booked Ellison for allegedly diving. Horridge did appear to make contact with Ellison but Ellison's dive had been a little exaggerated (65 mins). Power soon played in Ellison for a sweeping left-foot shot which the keeper did well to divert for a corner (67 mins). Although the corner was cleared, Ward played a good ball to Hawes whose cross was expertly hooked into the net by Phil Power (68 mins) to restore Altrincham's two-goal lead. Ellison then turned the defence on the edge of the box and Power twisted well to get in a firm shot which Horridge saved well (70 mins).

Scheuber was now beginning to play well and initiated a move which let in Ellison who hesitated fatally with only the keeper to beat. Not only did his shot go straight at Horridge, but he injured himself in the process. Lancaster brought on Welsh for Morton, who left the field to a chorus of "Alty Reject" as Ellison resumed, hobbling. Sunshine had now replaced the rain as Mayers moved up front to give the visitors a 4-3-3 formation which gave Altrincham some trouble in the closing stages. Gallagher, Scheuber and then Crowe needed to be alert to break up attacks but, after Crowe's fine tackle, the ball broke to Welsh who volleyed well over from 15 yards when he should have made Coburn, largely a spectator in the second half, work harder (76 mins).

After more good work by Scheuber, Power got past Sparrow and fed Scheuber who unfortunately mis-kicked but managed to get it back to Power whose ball to Ellison produced a fine turn and shot at the keeper (78 mins). After the referee had remonstrated with the vocal Lancaster bench, first Adams, then Scheuber were fouled. From the latter free-kick, Ward's free-kick from 25 yards went yards over the top, cleared the Golf Road end, and probably ended up in the front-gardens opposite the ground (81 mins). Maddox got into a muddle but was rescued by an offside decision before Lancaster's Ward surprisingly gave way to Barnes (83 mins) but 'Mad Dog' redeemed himself in clearing a subsequent Horner free-kick. Kilbane played in a good ball through the centre to Mayers, whose headed flick put in the newly arrived Barnes who shot well wide (85 mins).

In making a routine clearance, Danny Adams twisted and needed treatment on his leg but he resumed play. Ellison then got past Kilbane, arguably with the undetected use of his hand, turned and shot but Horridge saved (88 mins). Lancaster's last chance went when Mayers fed Clitheroe but the latter's curling cross from the right was just too long and went for a goal-kick.

Left: Steve Hawes makes off with his Man of the Match award. Click on image to enlarge it.

At the final whistle, Steve Hawes was deservedly named Thresher's Man of the Match but Danny Adams also had a fine game, whilst Barry Crowe added some much needed stability at the back. Maddox had an up-and-down performance but Talbot was as steady as usual. Gallagher looked happier in midfield than at the back but had a fairly quiet game. Altrincham missed Quinn's runs up the wing and the loss of Quayle was also a blow but Power had his best game for some time as substitute. Likewise, Stuart Schueber's performance as sub was probably his best yet for Altrincham and Dickie Landon proved yet again that despite his lack of pace, he knows how to put chances away. Kevin Ellison had relatively few runs but still threatened with several shots, whilst Mark Ward produced some outstanding passes, as one has come to expect. Stuart Coburn had a quiet afternoon and could not be faulted for Lancaster's well-worked goal. So, this was an encouraging performance in which Altrincham dominated the second half. With no game next weekend, they will inevitably slip down the table before meeting Marine a week tomorrow but if they can repeat this performance they should be climbing back up the table soon afterwards.