ALTRINCHAM 0, FC HALIFAX TOWN 1
Jack Earing maintained FC Halifax Town’s push for a promotion play-off place with the matchwinning goal at Altrincham.
The 22-year-old striker’s early goal proved decisive as the Shaymen strengthened their hold on seventh spot.
It was a disciplined display from Pete Wild’s Halifax which was rarely troubled as they made it only one defeat in eight matches.
Former Huddersfield Town favourite Nathan Clarke, now aged 37, superbly marshalled the back line.
Altrincham, meandering in mid-table, offered little part from the occasional flash of brilliance from Ryan Colclough, the former Crewe, Wigan and Scunthorpe winger.
As at all matches, there was one minute’s silence before kick off in memory of the Duke of Edinburgh who died the previous day aged 99.
Altrincham came agonisingly close to taking an eight-minute lead.
Yusifu Ceesay threaded a delightful pass to release top scorer Josh Hancock whose shot was kept out by the legs of goalkeeper Sam Johnson and a lucky ricochet up on to the crossbar.
But the visitors made the all-important breakthrough four minutes later through Earing.
The former youth team player at Bolton Wanderers, was given space to burst forward a crash an unstoppable low drive past goalkeeper Tony Thompson for his seventh goal of the season.
And that was the sum total of the first half action in a match which meandered along without ever going anywhere fast.
Chances remained at a premium in the second period, though it was Altrincham had openings to draw level.
Ceesay’s drive was deflected narrowly over and substitute Nyal Bell’s header looped on to the roof of the net.
And in the closing stages, Colclough forced a super save from Johnson and saw another effort deflected narrowly wide for a corner as it was not their day.