Town made just one change from their previous outing against Scunthorpe United at The Shay, with Dylan Crowe coming in for AJ Warburton. Hosts Altrincham arrived at the J. Davidson Stadium in strong form, having won their last four home matches.
With Adam Lakeland serving a one match touchline ban, Sam Walker took charge from the sidelines and would have been encouraged by Town’s bright start. An early corner caused chaos in the Altrincham box, flicked on into a crowded six yard area where a series of desperate blocks kept the ball out before Hutchinson somehow palmed it off the line. The rebound fell to Will Hugill, who teed up Jay Turner Cooke, but his composed effort rattled the crossbar and went over.
The Shaymen dominated the opening stages, pressing aggressively and pinning Altrincham back, with the hosts struggling to play out. The only setback in an otherwise strong start came when Thierry Latty Fairweather was forced off with a muscle injury, prompting the introduction of Warburton.
Town continued to threaten, and after a strong challenge from Matty Kosylo, one that may have warranted more than a yellow on another day, Josh Hmami struck from distance from the resulting free kick, but his effort was comfortably held by the goalkeeper.
Altrincham’s first real opportunity came when Liam Humbles weaved past several challenges before shooting from a tight angle around 25 yards out. The effort had height but lacked direction, and Sam Johnson was never seriously tested.
As the half progressed, the hosts began to grow into the game. A dangerous spell saw the ball bounce around inside the Town penalty area, eventually falling to Jimmy Knowles, who beat Shaun Hobson to it with a header from six yards out. However, he was unable to generate enough power to trouble Johnson, who gathered comfortably.
Overall, it was a half of limited clear cut chances, with both sides showing attacking promise but ultimately being denied by organised and disciplined defending.
The second half began in a similar fashion, with Town again looking the more threatening side early on. Hmami was played in down the left and delivered a ball to the near post, where Will Harris attacked it but got too much on his header, sending it over the bar, an encouraging early sign.
Moments later, Jay Turner Cooke delivered a free kick from the left that evaded everyone in the box and bounced dangerously in the six yard area, appearing destined for the far corner. However, Hutchinson reacted sharply to make an impressive late save once it became clear no touch was coming.
Altrincham responded with a chance of their own, as Humbles cut inside from the flank and attempted to curl an effort with his left foot, but it was well saved by Johnson.
Knowles, who had looked Altrincham’s most dangerous player throughout the game, then skipped past a few challenges in the box and unleashed a shot that rattled the underside of the crossbar and bounced away. Charlie Kirk tried to bring the ball under control and direct it back towards goal, but his effort was cleared for a corner.
This prompted a change from Town, with David Kawa introduced in place of Will Hugill. Hobson then went down, marking Town’s second injury of the day, with Kieran Morris coming on in his place.
When he came on, Kawa, the substitute, made a few good runs down the left and, on this occasion, teed up Turner-Cooke, who smashed the ball into the bottom left corner in the 94th minute, beating Hutchinson and sending all three points back to The Shay.
Altrincham
30 Hutchinson, 6 Grant (5 Cooper 84), 8 Marriott, 11 Knowles, 14 Kosylo (10 Khan 84), 17 Weaver (33 Jones 84), 22 Crawford ©, 23 Golden, 28 Humbles (7 Crankshaw 84), 34 Sassi, 40 Kirk
Subs: 27 Fallon, 12 Breckin, 3 Reed
FC Halifax Town
1 Johnson ©, 4 Hugill (22 Kawa 75), 5 Hobson (28 Morris 79), 8 Hmami, 9 Harris 15 Smith, 23 Crowe, 24 Palmer, 27 Turner-Cooke, 30 Johnson, 36 Latty-Fairweather (19 Warburton 13)
Subs: 12 Ford, 16 Mills, 17 Bray, 18 Hoti
Referee: Melissa Burgin
Goals: Turner-Cooke 90 + 4
Yellow Cards: Kosylo 20, Marriott 26, Hobson 35, Crawford 59, C Johnson 63, Hugill 70
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 2572 (505 away)
Altrincham 0 FC Halifax Town 1
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