ALTRINCHAM 0, TORQUAY UNITED 0
PART-TIMERS Altrincham can reflect on a job well done in their first season back in the National League.
The Robins brought down the curtain on the 2020-21 campaign by holding second-placed Torquay United at the J Davidson Stadium.
They finished a respectable 17th in a league where many clubs are full-time.
Indeed, there was a time whey they occupied a promotion play-off place as they punched well above their weight.
Reality later sunk in, but they finished well clear of the relegation places in any other season. No teams go down due to the National League North and South campaigns being abandoned.
Altrincham finished the season strongly, unbeaten in their last three games.
Torquay, meanwhile, finished runners-up to Sutton United who claimed the one automatic promotion place.
It leaves The Gulls to contest the play-offs for the second promotion place.
They go into those games on the back of a 13-match unbeaten run, though they have forgotten how to win as they have drawn each of their last four games.
Robins’ fans were introduced to new-signing Brad Jackson before kick-off.
The 24-year-old midfielder, once a trainee at Burnley, was signed from Chester FC after failing to agree a new contract.
There was one minute’s applause in memory of all those connected with the club who have died in the last 12 months.
These included legendary former manager Tommy Docherty, former player George Heslop who was a great at Manchester City and former player Jordan Sinnott.
Torquay manager Gary Johnson, whose side had drawn each of the last three matches, fielded a strong line up so not to lose momentum as they strive to regain the Football League status lost in 2007.
Altrincham, having comfortably survived after promotion from National League North, were also at full strength as they wanted to bow out with a win.
Torquay’s Brazilian goalkeeper Lucas Covolan, once a team-mate of former Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho at top club Vasco da Gama, made an early save to deny Alistair Smith.
The Gulls had a couple of early chances as Adam Randell fired just over and Asa Hall stung the palms of goalkeeper Tony Thompson.
And the closest they came to breaking the deadlock came in the 25th minute when Randell drove into the box as his low cross was flicked goalwards by Connor Lemonheigh-Evans only for Thompson to make an important save with his legs.
Covolan, however, was the busier custodian and late in the half was forced into action to deny Smith and Dan Mooney with decent saves.
Both sides lacked quality in the final third with several wayward efforts leaving the ground, finishing more in keeping with rugby than football.
The Gulls had a great chance to make the breakthrough midway through the second period after a poor punch by Thompson.
Cameron’s header was lopping in, but Jake Moult saved the day with an important goalline clearance.
The match, played before a crowd of 1,032, fizzled out in the latter stages, hardly surprising with nothing at stake for either side.