Nuneaton Town 2 - 1 Altrincham (full-time score)

[dutchman]

[dutchman]

Nuneaton grabbed their first win and goals of the season with a 2-1 win over Altrincham.



Brian Reid had opted to abandon his 3-5-2 formation after it had brought no goals in the previous five outings of the season – not that it seemed to matter in the opening 20 minutes.

The Boro failed to create an opening, but nor did Altrincham, in what can only be described as a stale start to the match.

The closest chance for Nuneaton came in the 29th minute, but Andy Brown was unable to get his head to a drilled cross from Theo Streete, the Boro forward diving full-length, but missing his contact by a matter of inches.

But, with the switch to four across the middle giving the Boro a lot more width, Brown was finally starting to get the service he has been waiting for this season.

In the 34th minute he took full advantage of that fact as the number ten rose magnificently in the area and slammed home a wonderful cross from deep by Ben Starosta. David Parton was given no chance by the effort as Brown embraced the Boro fans behind the goal.

The tension visibly lifted from the Nuneaton players after the goal as the touch that had eluded one or two of them in the opening month of the season suddenly returned.

They did not create any further chances of note in the half, but they played with a fluidity that had been missing at times this season, making it by far the best 45 minutes Reid will have watched of the campaign.

The Boro continued the second half in the same vain as Starosta and Ryan Smith especially were showing a real understanding on the right hand side.

It was from the other flank, though, that the Boro grabbed their second goal, and it came about after some lovely play by substitute Adam Walker.

The midfield man skipped inside two men on the left-hand side before slipping a low cross into the Altrincham box. It was cleared by the defence, but only as far as Jack Dyer, the former Burton Albion man showing remarkable composure to side foot the ball past Parton from 20-yards out.

The Boro were coasting at this point – so it was against the run of play when Damian Reeves halved the deficit with time running out.

Former Boro man Kyle Perry was involved in the goal, it was his through ball that found Reeves in the box. The Altrincham frontman did the rest, though, slamming home past Charles-Cook with a venomous effort.

The Boro defended well after the goal seeing off the challenge of Altrincham.

NUNEATON: Charles-Cook, Starosta, Franklin, Geohaghon, Streete, Smith (John 89), Dyer, Armson (Walker 59), Cranston, Brown, Curran (Brown 90).

Subs not used: Wren, Vieira.

ALTRINCHAM: Parton, Griffin (Moult 79), Havern, Leather, Richman (Crowther 64) Gillespie (Perry 69), Reeves, Clee, Marshall, Williams, Cavanagh.

Subs not used: Coburn, Moult, King.

ATTENDANCE: 774